Tiafoe and Shelton set to end America's 23-year US Open drought
With the US Open final set to be all-American, historical data suggests a tough path to victory for both Tiafoe and Shelton, as each player has been eliminated in their previous two major semi-final appearances.
Yahoo Sports data reveals that both Americans have reached the last four at majors twice each, but neither has yet advanced to a final, with Shelton falling to Djokovic and Sinner, and Tiafoe losing to Alcaraz and Fritz.
Source: Yahoo SportsYahoo Sports highlights that this semifinal marks their third meeting at the US Open, with each player holding a win from previous encounters in 2023 and 2024. The article also revisits Shelton’s post-match comments from last year, where he acknowledged that losing to Tiafoe 'lit a fire underneath' him despite his support for the growth of American tennis.
Source: Yahoo SportsYahoo Sports reports that former ATP stars Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson, and John Isner have all tipped Ben Shelton to edge out Frances Tiafoe, citing his superior firepower and commitment despite the latter's crowd-pleasing ability. The trio noted that while Tiafoe is a dangerous counterpuncher, Shelton's serve and aggressive style give him the slight advantage in the head-to-head matchup.
Source: Yahoo SportsGN sports/tennis (en-US) highlights the contrasting tactical styles of the finalists, noting Tiafoe’s calculated shot-making against Shelton’s high-velocity serving, while confirming both players have an extra day off Thursday to recover from their grueling quarterfinals.
Source: GN sports/tennis (en-US)With Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe advancing to the semifinals, the United States has locked in a spot in the championship match, presenting a rare opportunity to break the 23-year men's singles title drought.
Source: Yahoo Sports
