September 06, (THEWILL) – Rising American star, Ben Shelton, continued his dream run at the US Open on Wednesday, by defeating compatriot Frances Tiafoe to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final.
The 20-year-old Shelton triumphed over the 10th-seeded Tiafoe in an entertaining four-set match, winning 6-2 3-6 7-6(7) 6-2. With the victory, Shelton became the youngest American man to make the final four in New York since Pete Sampras in 1990.
After cruising through the first set, Shelton lost momentum in the second as Tiafoe levelled the match. The third set brought high drama, with multiple breaks of serve from both players. Shelton showed resilience to save a set point in the tiebreak and eventually claim the set to go ahead. He then pulled away in the fourth set to complete the statement win.
Shelton said after the match: “It was an emotional battle out there today. I had to dig deep at times, but I’m thrilled to get through to my first Grand Slam semi.” The world number 47 will next face the ultimate test against top seed Novak Djokovic, who is chasing his 22nd Grand Slam title.
Djokovic comfortably won his quarter-final in straight sets. In the other semi-final, Spanish sensation, Carlos Alcaraz, takes on German Alexander Zverev.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
