History asks about Shelton

Although the match started as a showdown without a clear favorite, the reality is that we all knew one of the two had a bit more firepower in his bag. That was Ben Shelton, capable of coming back from a set down against Frances Tiafoe (4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5) to advance to the final of the US Open 2026.

It wasn't easy, but then these matches never are. With a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, facing a good friend and the responsibility of being here after eliminating Carlos Alcaraz in five sets. It was normal for people to look at Ben Shelton on Friday like never before. The key would begin with handling all those lights, as he was fully equipped for tennis. The tension was palpable from the first ball of the night; everything that was at stake was conveyed, now it was time to put theory into practice.

There are many things necessary to win a Grand Slam semifinal, but one essential is a player's ability to correct his actions. And Shelton corrected. The match began to pivot on small details, those that in matches of this caliber ultimately move mountains. The American adjusted from the baseline, started to find better sensations, and, above all, felt in control of his serve again. That was when the player who had toppled Alcaraz finally emerged, although they had to first give up an early exchange.

Shelton started serving like a beast. He managed to hit a serve at 158 miles per hour (254 km/h), the fastest of the entire US Open, although later the technology would correct that figure, just as he did with his game. Even so, the five fastest serves of the tournament bear his signature; no one can take that away from him. That was when Tiafoe began to suffer more and more, and the balance started to tip point by point towards the other side.

The match begins to change

The third set had a monumental turning point in a 13-minute game. Arthur Ashe held its breath as Tiafoe tried to hold on, but the tension ultimately consumed him. Frustrated, Frances ended up surrendering the game and, shortly after, also the set. The narrative had completely changed. The fourth set began with Shelton shaking. The final was there, within reach, and during that first game, he seemed to feel the vertigo. He salvaged the moment and went back into autopilot. 

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Then the crucial games arrived, and Tiafoe started to run out of answers. Everything became too big for him. When he was a game away from forcing the tiebreak, he ended up handing over the weapons. As often happens in sports, only one can remain, but here the overall score never lied. The best player won, or at least the one who was most prepared.

Shelton will be in his first Grand Slam final on Sunday. On the other side of the net will be Alexander Zverev. And at stake will be something even greater than the title: becoming the first American Grand Slam champion since Andy Roddick at the US Open in 2003. Twenty-three years later, the United States has another chance. And this time, it's brought by a lefty.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La historia pregunta por Shelton