New York – The U.S. Open will feature an all‑American men’s singles semi‑final on Friday as eighth‑seed Ben Shelton and 11th‑seed Frances Tiafoe prepare to battle for a spot in the championship match. Both players delivered thrilling quarter‑final wins that have energized U.S. tennis fans and revived hopes for a home‑grown Grand Slam champion for the first time since Andy Roddick’s 2003 triumph.

Shelton’s marathon upset

Shelton, the highest‑ranked American in the draw, earned the biggest win of his career by defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five‑set marathon that concluded at 3:33 a.m., the latest finish in U.S. Open history. The victory marked Shelton’s first over the seven‑time Grand Slam champion and made him only the second American man in the past twenty years to beat a top‑three opponent at the tournament.

Tiafoe’s comeback triumph

Tiafoe, seeded 11th, also produced a dramatic performance, rallying from two sets down to overcome compatriot Alex Michelsen 5‑7, 3‑6, 7‑5, 6‑3, 7‑6(10‑6). The win secured his third U.S. Open semi‑final appearance and underscored a remarkable fortnight for the Florida‑born player.

What the semi‑final means for U.S. tennis

The all‑American clash carries the weight of a nation that has not seen a men’s singles Grand Slam champion in over two decades. A victory for either Shelton or Tiafoe guarantees a place in Sunday’s final and could spark a new era of American dominance on the world stage.

Other semi‑final match‑up

On the opposite side of the draw, top seed Alexander Zverev of Germany will face Russian Karen Khachanov. Zverev, the reigning French Open champion, is seeking his second major title, while Khachanov returns to a U.S. Open semi‑final for the first time since 2022.

Fans can catch the men’s singles semi‑finals at Arthur Ashe Stadium (1600 GMT / 12:00 p.m. ET) on Friday, followed by the women’s doubles final later in the day.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.