Atlanta

Atlanta’s Ben Shelton advances to first-ever major final

2026 US Open - Day 10 NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: Ben Shelton of the United States celebrates winning the third set against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during their Men's Singles Quarterfinal match on Day Ten of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 08, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

NEW YORK — Atlanta native Ben Shelton defeated fellow American Frances Tiafoe during Friday night’s US Open semifinals match to advance to the finals.

Sunday’s championship match will be Shelton’s first final in a major tournament.

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Shelton pulled out a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 victory on Friday and will play No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev on Sunday for the U.S. Open title.

The No. 8-seeded Shelton had plenty of energy left after ousting defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a quarterfinal match that ended Wednesday at 3:33 a.m., the latest finish ever at the U.S. Open.

Now he needs to stop French Open champion Zverev to give the host nation its first men’s major winner since Andy Roddick at the 2003 U.S. Open.

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The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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