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The 2026 US Open handed New York a profound milestone that took nearly six decades to arrange.
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When Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe advanced to face one another in the men’s singles semifinals, they guaranteed an American man a spot in the final, putting the nation just one victory away from ending a grueling 23-year drought without a home-soil men’s Grand Slam champion.
But the showdown’s magnitude stretched far beyond national pride. The all-Black semifinal arrived 58 years to the day after tennis icon Arthur Ashe clinched the inaugural Open Era championship at Flushing Meadows in 1968.
Watching the historic bracket unfold, WTA star Coco Gauff sent a poignant message to her compatriots ahead of their clash.
Representation matters. A moment bigger than tennis. 💙 pic.twitter.com/hblqsTbzJl
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2026
“With Arthur Ashe, I think it’s so incredible. Especially on the men’s side, I never thought I’d have the chance to see an all-black semifinal between the guys in my lifetime… I think it’s really cool. I have so much respect for both Ben and Frances,” admitted Gauff.
Remaining neutral, Gauff refused to choose a side between her two friends, simply wishing for a great match and hoping the winner would “bring it [the US Open Trophy] home.”
Following their historic match, Ben Shelton defeated Frances Tiafoe in four sets to secure his spot in the US Open singles final against Alexander Zverev.
Coco Gauff Avoided Messaging Tiafoe, Shelton Ahead of Men’s US Open Semifinal
Gauff admitted she hadn’t, not because she didn’t want to, but because she believes texting players mid-tournament is bad luck.
“I don’t really like to do it in the middle of the tournaments because I feel like it’s a bad-luck omen, so I usually don’t like to text anyone while they’re playing the tournament. I don’t want to screw up momentum,” Gauff revealed.
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James Blake Proud of Ben Shelton’s Tennis Journey
Shelton is bidding to become the first home US Open men’s singles champion since Andy Roddick in 2003 and could also become the first black American man to win a singles major since Arthur Ashe in 1975.
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Former World No.4 James Blake believes a Shelton win would be huge for African-American representation in the sport.
“Having another black American in the final leaves you wondering how many kids and adults are watching that maybe wouldn’t have been otherwise. They are going to be inspired to hear Ben’s story and see someone that looks like them out there playing and competing in a sport that has historically been dominated by the sense of a country club white sport.”
Ben Shelton’s Recent Form
American eighth seed Shelton has shown he has what it takes to reach a major final and beat the world’s best players along the way.
Known for a thunderous serve which has topped 140mph over the past fortnight, Shelton has complemented his attacking instincts by developing his defensive skills and improving his weaker backhand.
Shelton’s progress has led to four title victories this season – Dallas (indoor hard), Munich (clay), Stuttgart (grass) and Canadian Open (outdoor hard) – and a watershed win over Alcaraz at the US Open.
“Ben has been trending in the right direction throughout this year. I think four titles on different surfaces is evidence of it,” Shelton’s father and coach Bryan said.
Shelton had never beaten a top-three opponent until overcoming Alcaraz, who was playing in his first tournament for almost five months, in an epic quarter-final.
Ahead of the US Open final, Shelton expressed, “For me, this whole tournament has been uncharted territory. I’m in positions I’ve never been in before. I’ve beaten guys I’ve never beaten before.”
Shelton must also beat Zverev for the first time, having lost all five of their previous meetings, if he is to become the first American man in 23 years to win a Grand Slam singles title.
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2026 US Open Essentials
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- American Men Look to End Grand Slam Drought at the US Open
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This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 8:08 AM.