The men’s singles title at the US Open hangs on a two-fold question: first, whether any player can prevent Alexander Zverev from taking it; second, whether an American man might finally break a drought that has stretched past twenty years.
Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe will make history on men’s semi-final day. Both are chasing a place in the final, and both are chasing something bigger: the first American men’s Grand Slam champion since the 2003 US Open. Standing in their way is Zverev, the world No 2, who is the firm favourite to win his second Grand Slam of 2026.
Shelton outlasts Alcaraz in a marathon
In the early hours of Wednesday, Shelton knocked out defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. That match became the latest-finishing contest in tournament history, and it sent Shelton into his third major semi-final. He had already reached the final four at the 2023 US Open and the 2025 Australian Open.
“That was a war,” said Shelton. “The most enjoyable match that I’ve had in my career.”
Alcaraz came to New York as the man who had won here before and among the players considered most likely to triumph again. Shelton kept pace with him through every point and then produced more at the moments that counted most. The victory puts him into a semi-final against either Tiafoe or Karen Khachanov, whichever pairings the draw delivers — although Zverev’s route to that stage has already been settled.
Tiafoe’s fightback keeps home hopes alive
Alex Michelsen was the man who brought Tiafoe back from two sets and a break down, but it was Tiafoe who reached the semi-finals for a third time after beating him. The comeback was the kind of match that has defined Tiafoe’s relationship with the New York crowd.
Home fans have collected cherished memories from the American’s tournament exploits, including his dragon-slaying defeat of Rafael Nadal on the way to the 2022 semi-final and his blockbuster win over Shelton two years ago. The Cincinnati runner-up this year, however, insists this current run feels distinct from those earlier triumphs.
“I’m just a different person in general,” said Tiafoe. “Those two runs (to the semi-finals) were great, something I will cherish forever, but I’m not that person who I was when I made one in 2022 and when I made one in ’24. I’m not that person. I’m excited to see what this me does.”
He added: “I have higher hopes for myself. So yeah, it’s great. The tournament is still going. There’s a lot more tennis to be played, a lot more sets to be played, and a lot more physical things to be done. We’re going to enjoy this, but we got to keep going.”
The American player has seen his game come back to life recently. He changed how he lives and added a serious fitness plan late last year, and now his matches show the payoff.
Lindsay Davenport, a former world No 1, commented on Frances Tiafoe’s recent run of form. She noted that if people heard his stories from last fall, they would see how low he was at the time. According to Davenport, he was willing to change his approach and commit himself fully to the game.
Sometimes it’s hard for players or people to make certain changes, but he has arranged nearly all of his life so that tennis takes center stage.
“Now to watch him be able to go out there and compete from two sets down, like the old Frances doesn’t necessarily (do), to stick his heels in and be like ‘I’m not going anywhere’ – I mean, he’s fighting.”
Zverev’s quiet path to the semi-final
Zverev has kept winning while the men’s draw has fallen apart around him. Jannik Sinner is absent, and Novak Djokovic and Alcaraz have fallen by the wayside.
Luciano Darderi, the 21st seed, is the highest-ranked player Zverev has faced. He eased past world No 70 Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets. The 29-year-old is a big favourite to beat unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov in the opening semi-final on Friday from 8pm on Sky Sports Tennis.
The record supports the label. In every one of their five encounters, Zverev has come out on top against Shelton. He has dropped only a single match of his 10 contests with Tiafoe. By the numbers, the final appears to be his to win.
This player has a history of performing well during the later stages of major tournaments. He claimed his maiden Grand Slam crown at this year’s French Open and went on to make it to the Wimbledon final. As the world No 2, he should feel right at home.
But Zverev is not taking anything for granted.
He spoke those words, saying “I think the more often that you get to that stage, the more normal it becomes, which is something that you should never take for granted,”.
“I know it can change in a heartbeat in tennis. I think confidence is something that is incredibly important, but also can go away quite quickly.
I discovered that truth after Wimbledon, when I played poorly throughout both hard-court tournaments there, and then found it again here.
“But yeah, of course I’m happy with how things are going, but looking forward, I still hope to play two good matches here.”
Khachanov’s chance to break through
This is Khachanov’s first attempt at a major final, though he has already reached the last four of two Grand Slams: the US Open in 2022 and the Australian Open in 2023. His route to this year’s tournament has been anything but ordinary.
He was unseeded in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2018 after a strange season. He reached at least the third round of all four majors for the first time, but he is just 10-15 in other events. He lost in the opening rounds of all three hard-court events before coming to New York.
Zverev and Khachanov, both in the 1990s generation, have met nine times. The German holds a 6-3 edge. Their most notable encounter came in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics final, when Zverev won in straight sets to take gold. Their only previous Grand Slam meeting came at the French Open in 2018, when Zverev fought back from a set down to win in five.
A good day has been hard to find for Khachanov this season, which is why he may be able to trouble Zverev only when he plays well.
The American drought, in numbers
The last time an American man claimed a Grand Slam singles trophy was 23 years ago, at the 2003 US Open. That remains the most recent victory for the nation, even though it has continued to produce significant talent without producing a champion since then.
Tiafoe and Shelton are both familiar with what has come before, though neither has made it to a final match yet.
The draw for this year has now been revealed. Djokovic and Alcaraz have both dropped out, taking with them two of the most formidable players in the field. Zverev is still present, yet the road to the title appears more open than it has in years.
The past is not on Tiafoe’s mind. Instead, he is focused solely on what comes next.
“We’re going to enjoy this, but we got to keep going,” he said.
Zverev’s record against the Americans
The record stands firmly against both Americans. Zverev holds a perfect 5-0 mark over Shelton. He has dropped just one match to Tiafoe in 10 encounters. Either one would be stepping into a matchup where they have been dominated by their opponent in head-to-head meetings, should Zverev advance past Khachanov.
But records are made to be broken. Shelton’s win over Alcaraz showed he can beat the best on the biggest stage. Tiafoe’s comeback against Michelsen showed he can win when things look bleak.
Two Americans are playing on the same semi-final day for the first time ever, and the day itself will mark history for that reason alone. Whether either of them can push past this stage remains to be seen.
What happens next
On Friday, Zverev takes on Khachanov at 8pm on Sky Sports Tennis in the first semi-final. The victor will then play the winner of Shelton vs Tiafoe in the final.
Sky Sports is carrying the US Open live from August 30, and you can stream it without a contract via NOW and the Sky Sports App. The Laver Cup runs at The O2 in London from 25-27 September, also shown live on Sky Sports.
This tournament has already given us one of the most memorable matches in its history this week, and Zverev remains the favourite, with the form book backing him to take it.
Tiafoe and Shelton have the support from the stands, while Khachanov draws on his history of long runs in big tournaments and Zverev has the record to back him up.
The answers will come on the court.
Key facts box
- Zverev vs Khachanov: Friday, 8pm, Sky Sports Tennis
- Zverev leads Khachanov 6-3 in career meetings
- Zverev has beaten Shelton in all 5 career meetings
- Zverev has lost 1 of 10 matches against Tiafoe
- Shelton beat Alcaraz in the latest-finishing match in US Open history
- Tiafoe came back from two sets and a break down to beat Michelsen
- Last American man to win a Grand Slam: 2003 US Open
- Khachanov is unseeded at a Grand Slam for the first time since 2018
- Zverev won his first Grand Slam title at this year’s French Open and reached the Wimbledon final
Source: skysports.com
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