Ben Shelton Aims for U.S. Open Triumph Amid Historical Challenges
As he approaches the U.S. Open final on Sunday, Ben Shelton faces a daunting backdrop: a 23-year drought for American men at Grand Slams, a staggering 51-year gap for black American men, and an unfortunate 0-5 record against his opponent, Alexander Zverev, in Flushing Meadows.
It might seem overwhelming, but Shelton isn’t letting it get to him.
“For me, this whole tournament now at this point has been uncharted territory,” he shared. “I’m in positions I’ve never been in before. I’ve beaten guys that I’ve never beaten before. I’m just excited to put it all out on the line. Yes, I can think about how cool this moment is and what I’m playing for.”
Despite the significance, he’s handling it quite well. “At the end of the day, I’m here in New York, hanging out with my team, with my homies, playing a little tennis,” he continued. “And I’ve been able to downplay the moment pretty well.”
It’s quite an accomplishment for Shelton, who is the first black American to reach a Grand Slam final since MaliVai Washington at Wimbledon in 1996 and the first at the U.S. Open since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
But his aspirations go beyond merely making history.
He hopes to end the stretch of 90 consecutive majors without an American winner and aim to be the first since Andy Roddick in 2003 to claim a Grand Slam title, as well as the first black American to win one since Ashe in 1975.
These goals haven’t appeared to unsettle him.
As he matures both on and off the court, Shelton has a perfect 4-0 record in finals this year. “I don’t want to jinx him here, but if you look at his record throughout his career, he’s played well on Sundays,” noted his father and coach, Bryan Shelton. “That’s where he wants to be. He feels like he’s going to play his best tennis at the end of tournaments. So, glad he has a chance at the U.S. Open.”
This match presents a different kind of challenge compared to the ATP Masters events in Canada, Stuttgart, Munich, and Dallas, especially with Zverev being the top seed. Still, Shelton feels mentally prepared.
“I think I handle these big situations I have in my career pretty well. I feel that confidence and belief take over,” he remarked. “The nerves are always there. It’s something you’ve got to lean into. The nerves are as much there in the first round for me as in the semifinals, and I’m sure the finals will be the same. It’s something you’ve got to be able to overcome.”
“But for me, I’m having fun. I’m playing against the No. 1 seed, Grand Slam final, playing against a Grand Slam champion trying to get my first. It’s a lot of reasons that this is an enjoyable moment for me and knowing I can leave it all out there on the court and push myself to the absolute limit in every way and see what I can do is an exciting, exciting thought.”
Although Shelton hasn’t managed to win against Zverev yet, the veteran player recognizes Shelton’s potential. “Ben is a big, powerful guy,” Zverev said. “Massive serve, massive groundstrokes. Everything he does is just big.”
Historically, the odds lean against Shelton. He took the first set in their initial meeting back in 2024 but hasn’t managed to capture another since.
Nevertheless, he recently conquered both Stefanos Tsitsipas and Carlos Alcaraz after previously struggling against them. And after losing to Frances Tiafoe on this same court two years ago, he turned the tables to defeat him in the semifinals this time around.
“Problem-solving has been the name of the game here,” Shelton noted. “I was 0-1 against Stef, 0-3 against Carlos, and [Tiafoe] beat me the last time we played on this court. It’s been a lot of uphill battle, so I’m fully ready for the challenge to problem-solve.”
“I’m a different player. I have so many more tools. I feel like I know my identity, am comfortable in my own skin, and I know what it takes for me to be playing top-level tennis. So, I’m looking forward to the challenge, being able to problem-solve on Sunday. I know what I’m up against, and I’m also the most confident I’ve ever been in my game.”
