Ben Shelton is preparing for an unprecedented moment after advancing to his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open, where he intends to compete “for the USA” against top seed Alexander Zverev on Sunday.
The American becomes the first Black man to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972 and aims to be the first home male champion since Andy Roddick in 2003.
He will draw immense support from the raucous Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd as he faces the German top seed and title favorite Zverev.
Men’s Final: Head-To-Head
| Player | Overall | On Hard Courts | In Finals | Sets Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zverev | 5 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
| Shelton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Shelton revealed that he sought counsel from Rafael Nadal prior to his breakout performance in New York.
The 23-year-old Floridian defeated compatriot Frances Tiafoe to set up a winner-takes-all final against Zverev, who overcame Karen Khachanov.
His father and coach, Bryan Shelton, reached out to the 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal last month following a first-round loss in Cincinnati.
‘You’ve got to be able to bounce back when good things happen’
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Ben Shelton thought he hit a 158mph serve at the US Open semi-finals, but in fact it was an impressive 144mph according to Hawk-Eye
The Spaniard’s words of wisdom helped his son regroup after his stunning five-set victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.
More from Us Open Tennis, 2026
“I believe you learn from your experiences,” said the 60-year-old former ATP professional Shelton. “He won Montreal, traveled to Cincinnati, and we warned him, ‘this is going to be the toughest day you’re going to have,’ playing in the first round in Cincinnati right after winning a title.”
“Very few players come from that situation and still have a strong tournament the following week, but he didn’t. He lost in the first round.”
“I recall speaking with Rafa a couple of days after that match. He said, ‘you know, you’ve got to get through that first one, have the day off, and then be able to bring your best tennis again the next week’.”
“So it taught Ben that you have to be able to bounce back when good things happen, just as you must bounce back when adversity strikes or tough times arise.”
“We discussed his win over Carlos and how crucial it is for him to understand that this upcoming match will be even tougher, because many people want to rest and celebrate after a great result.”
“Our message is don’t celebrate until you’re done. You have to win the next match. You have to consolidate it. Then, hopefully next week, we can celebrate a little.”
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Shelton and Frances Tiafoe produced this incredible rally in their US Open semi-final
Will nerves play a part for Big Ben?
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Highlights of the US Open semi-final match between Tiafoe and Shelton
While acknowledging the nerves that accompany the biggest match of his career, Shelton stated that the opportunity to test himself against the top seed on the sport’s biggest stages on Sunday is something he is eagerly embracing.
“The nerves are always there,” he said. “It’s something you have to lean into. The nerves are just as present in the first round as they are in the semis, and I’m sure the finals will be no different.”
“It’s something you have to be able to overcome, but I’m having fun, you know? I’m playing against the number one seed, going up against a Grand Slam champion trying to get my first.”
“There are a lot of reasons why this is an enjoyable moment for me. Knowing I can leave everything on the court and push myself to the absolute limit… and see what I can do is an exciting thought.”
Zverev ready for cauldron atmosphere on Arthur Ashe
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Watch Zverev go around the net in his semi-final win against Karen Khachanov
The French Open champion was pushed to five sets in each of his opening two rounds, but has since won four consecutive matches without dropping a set to advance to his third straight major final and stand in Shelton’s path.
“I enjoy these kinds of atmospheres,” said the German.
“I’ve said it before. I’ve played a lot of French players in France. I think the most hostile crowd, if you can call it that, is when you are playing a French player in Paris Bercy back in the day.”
“That was quite intense, and I always enjoyed those. I always enjoyed that kind of atmosphere.”
“Of course, I played Australian players in Australia. I played Arthur Fery in Wimbledon. The Wimbledon crowd is a bit different, though. There’s no question about that.”
“For me, a loud and energetic crowd is always great, as long as they’re fair and don’t interrupt in the middle of points. Other than that, I always enjoy this kind of atmosphere.”
The US Open is live on Sky Sports from August 30.
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