Ben Shelton made history by defeating Frances Tiafoe in the men’s semifinals of the 2026 U.S. Open, ensuring a significant moment for American tennis. Shelton becomes the first Black American man to reach a U.S. Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972 and the first Black American man to appear in any Grand Slam singles final since 1996.
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The match took place at New York's Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night, a venue named after Ashe, who is celebrated for his groundbreaking achievements in tennis, including being the first Black male to win a major singles title and the only Black man to win three Grand Slam titles.
Shelton, seeded eighth, will face Germany's Alexander Zverev in the final on Sunday. He previously defeated Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
Tiafoe, ranked 11th, has also made significant strides in tennis, having grown up in a Maryland facility where his father worked as a janitor. His recognition includes winning the ATP's Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in 2020, where he expressed admiration for Ashe's legacy of helping others.
Coco Gauff, who lost in the women's singles semifinals earlier in the tournament, remarked on the significance of the all-Black semifinal featuring Shelton and Tiafoe. Gauff noted that she never expected to witness such a historic matchup and emphasized its importance for the sport.
The two players have met in the U.S. Open on two previous occasions, splitting their matches with Shelton winning in the 2023 quarterfinals and Tiafoe winning in the third round in 2024. The last American man to compete in the U.S. Open finals was Taylor Fritz, who lost in 2024, while Andy Roddick was the last to win the title in 2003.
The men’s singles final is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, with the tournament broadcasted on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC.