Shelton carries American hopes in US Open final after beating Tiafoe

Ben Shelton stands on the brink of fulfilling the American dream after securing his spot in the US Open final against Alexander Zverev. The 23-year-old from Florida triumphed over fellow American Frances Tiafoe, a day commemorating the September 11 terror attacks, 25 years after the tragic event. Eighth-seeded Shelton aspires to become the first US player to clinch a grand slam title or the US Open since Andy Roddick's victory in 2003.

Shelton expressed his determination: "Foe is like a big brother to me. This is where we want to be, at the tail end of this tournament. I know what my goal is, what my job is. I'm going for it here. Let's do this for the USA!" Despite the somber atmosphere, Tiafoe fought hard, but ultimately fell short after four grueling sets. He double-faulted at 4-4 in the first set, allowing Shelton to double the advantage.

In the second set, Shelton broke Tiafoe's serve at 15, and in the third set, a backhand winner secured a break for Shelton. A cross-court backhand in the fourth set sealed the win with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. Top seed Zverev, a three-time major finalist, will face off against a passionate crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, having already faced criticism for his ball bouncing routine before serves.