American Ben Shelton defeated compatriot Frances Tiafoe 4-6 6-3 6-3 7-5 in their US Open semi-final, securing a finale with German Alexander Zverev.
Tiafoe powered ahead 5-4 when Shelton produced a double fault, before raising the roof on the main showcourt with a hold to bag the first set.
He continued to target Shelton’s relatively weaker backhand in the second set.
However, Shelton dialled up the intensity to draw level and broke in the fifth game of the third set to take a commanding lead.
With his booming left-handed serve and his defence proving impenetrable in the high-octane fourth set, eighth seed Shelton heaped the pressure on late and moved into his maiden major final after a double fault by Tiafoe.
Shelton, the big-hitting 23-year-old, now stands one victory away from becoming the first American man to win a major singles title since Andy Roddick hoisted the trophy at Flushing Meadows in 2003.
“I’m going for it,” Shelton said. “I’m going to leave it all on the court. I hope you guys come and back me, let’s do this for the US. It’s a lot of emotion. My dad, my mom have sacrificed a lot for me to be in this position today.”
“My dad lost his mom earlier this year and she’s the reason he was able to play tennis. Without her there’s no Ben Shelton standing here today. This one is for her.”
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Zverev booked his place in Sunday’s final by fighting past unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov 6-3 7-6(7) 7-6(6) earlier in the day to close in on a second major title.
French Open champion Zverev was pushed to five sets in each of his opening two rounds, but has now won four straight matches without dropping a set to charge into his third consecutive major final and stand in Shelton’s path.
