US Open Day 13 - Is Ben Shelton The Guy?
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How did Ben Shelton’s night‑session win over Frances Tiafo impact his US Open final hopes?
Hello and welcome to the tennis podcast on Friday night in New York. Men's semifinal Friday that has just concluded with Ben Shelton becoming the first black man to reach the US Open Final since Arthur Ash in 1972. He'll face top seed Alexander Zverev on Sunday, both of them aiming to win a first US Open title. I'm Catherine Middle. Alongside me, as always, are David Law and Matt Roberts. We've been here in New York bringing you daily shows throughout this US Open Fortnite, as we do at every Grand Slam tournament. It has been quite a two weeks already, and it is going to be quite an occasion on Sunday, David, to see Ben Shelton aiming to become the first American man to win this title since Andy Roddick all the way back in two thousand and three.
Yeah, it's uh it's a huge moment. We had one moment a couple of years ago when Taylor Fritz as an American was in the final as well. He he came up short against Yannick Sinner, but there's a feeling that Ben Shelton is closer than that. Partly because uh he's playing so well and we can get into that, but also because the opposition isn't as Terrifying, frankly, as Janik Sinner has proven to be over the last few years. So it's an enormous moment. It was a huge moment inside the Arthrash Stadium tonight with Francis Tiafoe and Ben Shelton going toe to toe. Strange one for the crowd, but my word did they create an atmosphere and they had a show to to to be fitted.
It does feel different to two years ago, doesn't it, Matt? 'Cause w we were all here when Taylor Fritz reached the final and it was the same narrative. aiming to be the first American man to win the title since Andy Roddick, and it was only two years fewer since it had happened at that point. And yet somehow this feels really different.
And it's interesting how it feels so different when you think that Yannick Sinner at the time, like Alexander Zaverev, was a one time major champion.
What did Alexander Zverev’s straight‑sets win over Karen Khachanov reveal about his form for the final?
And yet He felt like such a sure thing even then. The consistency that he put together that season and the way he'd made his way through this tournament being really convincing. It's very different, I think, to Alexander Zverev, who I who I do think goes into Sunday as the favourite, Zverev. I think we should say that, given his record against Shelton, his record against lefties, the fact he has won A slam, the fact he doesn't have the pressure of trying to be the first American man in so long to win a major. I think all of that is on Zverev's side in this one. But yeah, as much as Taylor Fritz was talking up himself and his pace and that matchup going into the final, I don't remember feeling like I was giving Fritz.
Much of a chance heading into that one, whereas I have I've just been so convinced by Ben Shelton in the last two rounds. And I think it's it's the win over Carlos Alcaraz, really, still for me that is making me feel differently about Shelton going into this one. And he's backed it up tonight with a very, very impressive performance after a bit of a slow start. And yeah, there was there was a moment at the end when they when Tiafo climbed over the net and embraced Ben Shelton and You know, these guys are obviously tryna win majors for themselves, but they both know the bigger picture of American tennis that they're part of and it did feel like it was Tiafo saying, Right, go on then Ben, you are now representing us in the final, give it your best and it's gonna be a it's gonna be a hell of an occasion on on Sunday.
Four six, six three, six three, seven five over Tiafo tonight for Ben Shelton. How close was Tiafo able to make that match? Was Shelton as good as he was against Carlos Alcaraz three nights ago, did he need to be, David?
In some ways I think he was better.
Why might the Zverev vs. Shelton final be decided by ball‑bouncing issues and Zverev’s authority?
Now, obviously he didn't need to be as good to beat Tiafo as he did to beat Alcaraz, because Alcaraz is just a another level all entirely. And I think that that is, by the way, another reason why Shelton feels more of a a threat for this title than Fritz did, because Fritz didn't have to do that. He didn't have to get by Alcaraz to win the to win.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
How did Ben Shelton’s night‑session win over Frances Tiafo impact his US Open final hopes?
0:10–2:14
2
What did Alexander Zverev’s straight‑sets win over Karen Khachanov reveal about his form for the final?
2:14–4:17
3
Why might the Zverev vs. Shelton final be decided by ball‑bouncing issues and Zverev’s authority?
4:17–11:16
4
How has Ben Shelton’s backhand improved and why is it crucial against top opponents?
11:16–15:31
5
Can Ben Shelton maintain his momentum and handle pressure in the US Open final?
15:31–23:30
6
What is the controversy around Zverev’s excessive ball‑bouncing and how could it affect Sunday’s match?
23:30–30:39
7
Which team completed the Career Grand Slam in women’s doubles and what are the predictions for the women’s final?
30:39–37:52
8
What were the other notable results from Friday’s matches, including wheelchair and junior events?
37:52–56:30