September 11, 2026
Tiafoe vs Shelton US Open Semifinal Preview
Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton will face each other in a highly anticipated all-American semifinal at the 2026 US Open.
The two Americans have already produced memorable battles in New York, but Friday's meeting carries the biggest prize yet. The winner will reach the US Open men's singles final and move one victory away from lifting the trophy on home soil.
The semifinal is scheduled for Friday, September 11, at 7:00 PM local time inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Tiafoe vs Shelton Match Details
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Match Detail |
Information |
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Tournament |
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Round |
Semifinal |
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Match |
Frances Tiafoe vs Ben Shelton |
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Venue |
Arthur Ashe Stadium |
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Time |
4:00 AM (PKT), Sep 12 |
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Seeds |
Frances Tiafoe No. 11, Ben Shelton No. 8 |
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Head-to-head |
Shelton leads 3-1 |
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US Open meeting |
Tiafoe leads 1-0 |
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Stakes |
Place in the 2026 US Open final |
Tiafoe Fights Back From Two Sets Down
Tiafoe enters the semifinal after one of the most dramatic comebacks of the tournament.
The No. 11 seed fell two sets behind Alex Michelsen before turning the match around. Tiafoe eventually won 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6) after four hours and 38 minutes.
He also had to recover from a difficult position in the third set, making the comeback even more impressive.
The victory sent Tiafoe into his third US Open semifinal. All three of his Grand Slam semifinal appearances have come in New York.
Tiafoe will now look to take another step toward his first Grand Slam final.
Shelton Stuns Alcaraz in Five Sets
Shelton arrives after producing one of the biggest wins of his career.
The No. 8 seed defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7) in a four-hour, 28-minute thriller.
The match finished at 3:33 a.m., making it the latest finish in US Open history. Shelton sealed the victory with a 146 mph ace and earned his first win over a Top-3 opponent.
The result also gave Shelton another US Open semifinal appearance after reaching the last four in 2023.
His serve, aggressive returns and powerful groundstrokes will be major weapons against Tiafoe.
Shelton Leads the Head-to-Head
Shelton holds a 3-1 advantage over Tiafoe in their previous meetings.
However, Tiafoe has won their only previous US Open encounter.
The pair met in the third round in New York in 2024, when Tiafoe survived a five-set battle 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3.
Their latest US Open meeting will therefore be another chapter in a growing rivalry. The semifinal is also their third US Open meeting in four years.
Another Historic US Open Meeting
The semifinal carries significance beyond the tournament itself.
Tiafoe and Shelton are two of the leading American men of their generation, and one of them will become the first of the pair to reach a Grand Slam final.
The winner would also become only the third Black American man to reach a Grand Slam men's singles final, joining Arthur Ashe and MaliVai Washington.
With both players coming off five-set victories, the physical and mental battle could be just as important as their shot-making.
Tiafoe will look to use his experience and ability to change the rhythm of a match, while Shelton will rely heavily on his serve and first-strike tennis.
Match Highlights
- Tiafoe comes in after a five-set comeback against Alex Michelsen.
- Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller.
- Shelton leads the overall head-to-head 3-1.
- Tiafoe won their only previous US Open meeting in 2024.
- Both players are chasing their first Grand Slam final appearance.
- The winner will face either Alexander Zverev or Karen Khachanov in Sunday's final.
The Tiafoe vs Shelton semifinal promises another major night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with two American stars competing for a place in the US Open final.