Ben Shelton is preparing for a landmark moment in his career as he steps onto the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time in a Grand Slam final. The American will face top seed Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s showdown at the US Open, eager to capitalize on the support of a home crowd.
Shelton, 23, has made history by becoming the first Black American man to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972. He is now one victory away from becoming the first US male player to win the title since Andy Roddick claimed the trophy in 2003. After defeating compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals, Shelton is ready to “do it for the USA” against the German favorite.
The journey to the final has been fueled by key advice from tennis legend Rafael Nadal. Shelton’s coach and father, Bryan Shelton, contacted the 22-time Grand Slam champion after Ben suffered a first-round exit at Cincinnati, following his title win in Montreal. Nadal urged him to learn how to handle success and maintain focus.
“He won Montreal, he went to Cincinnati and we said: ‘this is going to be the toughest day you’re going to have’,” Bryan Shelton recalled. “Very few people come from that and have another good tournament the next week… Rafa was, like, ‘you know, you got to be able to get through that first one and have the day off and then be able to get your best tennis again the next week’.”
This mindset proved crucial after Shelton’s five-set quarter-final victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. His father emphasized that the final would be an even greater challenge and advised his son not to celebrate prematurely.
“We say don’t celebrate until you separate. So you’ve to win the next match. You’ve to consolidate it,” Bryan Shelton explained. “Then somewhere, hopefully next week, we can celebrate a little bit.”
Despite the magnitude of the occasion, Shelton says he is embracing the pressure. He acknowledged that nerves are a constant companion but noted that he is enjoying the opportunity to test himself against a top seed.
“The nerves are always there… It’s something you’ve got to lean into,” Shelton said. “I’m playing against the number one seed, playing against a Grand Slam champion trying to get my first. It’s a lot of reasons that this is an enjoyable moment for me.”
Zverev, the French Open champion, arrives in the final having won his last four matches without dropping a set, despite early-test matches against Alexander Shevchenko and Karen Khachanov. The German is no stranger to intense environments, citing hostile crowds in Paris and Wimbledon during his career.
“For me, a loud and energetic crowd is always great, as long as they’re fair, as long as they don’t interrupt in the middle of points,” Zverev said. “Other than that, I always enjoy these kind of atmospheres.”
Head-to-head statistics show Zverev leading the overall series 5-0, including a 3-0 advantage on hard courts and a perfect 1-0 record in finals. However, Shelton’s rise in New York suggests he is fully prepared for the challenge.
The pressure must be insane, but Shelton seems to genuinely enjoy these moments. That confidence could be the difference.
5-0 against Shelton including on hard courts… I respect the American dream, but this looks like a mismatch on paper.
Rafael Nadal’s advice about handling success sounds like exactly what Ben needed after that Cincinnati slump.
Wait, Zverev hasn’t dropped a set in four matches? That’s terrifying dominance. How does Shelton stop him?
This is huge for American tennis! It’s been over two decades since a homegrown player lifted the trophy.