Ben Shelton triumphed over fellow American Frances Tiafoe in a thrilling U.S. Open semi-final on Friday, securing a spot in the finals against Alexander Zverev. After a poignant night marked by the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Shelton rallied from a set down to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5, inching closer to breaking a 23-year drought for American men's singles Grand Slam champions.

No American male has claimed a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick's victory in 2003. Shelton, now aiming for his first Grand Slam title, expressed his determination, stating, "First, 'Foe' is like a big brother to me. This is where we want to be, at the tail end of this tournament. I'm going for it here. Let's do this for the USA!"

Earlier in the day, Zverev advanced to the final with a straight-sets win over Karen Khachanov, finishing with scores of 6-3, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (8-6). This marks Zverev's third consecutive major final appearance and his second at Flushing Meadows, following a runner-up finish in 2020.

The match saw Shelton deliver a stunning performance, accumulating 47 winners, including 20 aces. His powerful serves and relentless defense ultimately overwhelmed Tiafoe in the high-stakes fourth set.

Zverev reflected on his journey, stating, "After the second round at 3am, me and my team were in the dressing room actually laughing at how bad I was playing. That sense of humour helped me."

Looking forward to the final, Zverev embraced the idea of playing in front of a lively crowd, saying, "I think it's going to be a fantastic feeling playing... in a sold-out Arthur Ashe."

As both players prepare for the clash on Sunday, anticipation builds for what promises to be an electrifying final.