Ben Shelton, the rising star from Florida, drew on invaluable advice from Rafael Nadal as he surged into his first Grand Slam final at the US Open. The 23-year-old achieved this milestone by defeating compatriot Frances Tiafoe with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5, setting up a decisive match against Alexander Zverev on Sunday.

Shelton’s coach and father, Bryan Shelton, reached out to the 22-time Grand Slam champion after Ben faced a first-round exit in Cincinnati. The conversation with Nadal proved crucial, especially after Shelton's impressive five-set victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.

Bryan Shelton reflected on the conversation:

• Nadal emphasized the importance of bouncing back from both victories and setbacks.
• He advised that celebrating should wait until after consolidating success in subsequent matches.
• The lesson was clear: resilience is key in tennis.

Making history, Shelton became the first Black American man to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972. He aims to be the first American male to win the title since Andy Roddick in 2003.

As he prepares to face top seed Zverev, Shelton expressed excitement about playing before a vibrant Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. He relished the challenge of competing in intense atmospheres, recalling his experiences against French players in Paris and highlighting the thrill of energetic crowds, as long as they remain fair during play.