Ben Shelton is one match away from ending a 23-year American drought at the US Open, and the eighth seed is making no secret of his intent ahead of Sunday's men's singles final against top seed Alexander Zverev at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. 'It's going to be a war on Sunday,' Shelton declared, promising to leave everything on the court.

Shelton's Path to the Final

The 23-year-old American rallied past compatriot Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 on Friday to book his place in his first Grand Slam final. Shelton dropped the opening set before winning three consecutive sets — a run of form he was clearly relieved to complete efficiently. 'Really happy to close it out the way I did in four sets. I definitely didn't want to have five sets on my body going into the finals, but I thought I played a clean match,' he said. 'Tiafoe also played outstandingly and pushed me in so many ways. So, to be able to get through that one and win three sets in a row after dropping the first, I couldn't be happier.'

Shelton's run to the final included a remarkable five-set quarter-final victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz — a match that lasted until 3:33 a.m. and marked Shelton's first career win over a Top-3 player. That result, arguably the defining moment of his tournament, visibly bolstered his belief heading into the title clash.

What Shelton Said About Facing Zverev

Speaking about his mindset after reaching the final, Shelton was emphatic: 'I'm ready to go. It's going to be a war on Sunday. I'm going to leave it all on the court. Win or lose, obviously, I'm going to be proud of myself and what I've done, but this is the dream. This is what I'm playing for now. It's right in front of me, and I'm definitely not going to take my foot off the gas.'

He also offered a glimpse into his long-term thinking: 'My team and I think about things long-term. We're not looking for instant gratification. I know I still have so much further to go as a tennis player and to become the best version of myself, but it is right there, one more match, and, like I said, I'll leave everything on the court.'

The Historic Dimension

Should Shelton lift the trophy on Sunday, he will become the first American man to win the US Open since Andy Roddick triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2003. The significance runs deeper still: Shelton has already become the first Black American man to reach a Grand Slam final since Arthur Ashe lost to Ilie Nastase in 1972. A title would make him the first Black American champion at the US Open since Ashe himself won on the same grounds in 1968 — a feat he is chasing inside the stadium that bears Ashe's name.

On that weight of history, Shelton was reflective: 'It means everything. A lot of people have sacrificed a lot for me to be in this position that I'm in today. My whole family, both sides of my family, have gone through a lot to give not only my parents, but also us grandkids, the opportunities that we've had.' He added: 'Making history and being a part of history is pretty great, but obviously, the job's not finished.'

The Home Crowd Advantage

Shelton is also counting on the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd to be a factor. 'The crowd will certainly be loud, backing me. New York is such a cool sports city. There's such a great sports culture here, and I think there's a lot of American pride, so I'll definitely be looking to use that and play the best match that I can,' he said. Playing in arguably the most electric tennis arena in the world, on home soil, with a historic title in sight, Shelton heads into Sunday's final as arguably the sentimental favourite, even if Zverev holds the top seeding.

The US Open men's singles final between Shelton and Zverev is scheduled for Sunday, 14 September 2026, with the American crowd expected to generate a formidable atmosphere at the world's largest tennis stadium.