The Japan Times - Shelton, Tiafoe in spotlight as Zverev aims to build on Grand Slam success

Shelton vanquished defending champion and seven-time major-winner Carlos Alcaraz in a gripping quarter-final that kept even Zverev watching until after 3:30 in the morning.

"I did not go to bed," the German said, predicting a "fun semi-final between two Americans."

Tiafoe also came through a dramatic five sets to reach the last four, rallying from two sets down to hand young compatriot Alex Michelsen a heartbreaking defeat.

Now he and Shelton will battle to become the first US man to reach the US Open final since Taylor Fritz in 2024 and have a chance to end the American men's 23-year Grand Slam title drought -- stretching back to Andy Roddick's 2003 US Open triumph.

Zverev, who captured his long awaited first major title at the French Open this year and reached the final at Wimbledon, has made the last four at every major this year.

"I think it's a very special feeling when it becomes a normal thing," Zverev says of consistently contending at the highest level. "I don't take it for granted at all."

He will take on 50th-ranked Russian Karen Khachanov, who is playing his third career Grand Slam semi-final.

Although he has never contested a major final, Khachanov is no stranger to big stages. He fell to Zverev in the gold medal match at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

AFP Sport looks at men's semi-final action on Day 13 of the US Open:

Alexander Zverev (GER x1) v Karen Khachanov (RUS)

Zverev leads head to head 6-3

-- Zverev is vying to reach the US Open final for second time after coming within two points of the title in 2020 only to fall in five sets to Dominic Thiem.

It took six more years before he broke through for his first Grand Slam crown at Roland Garros this year. The German admits that has given him a new level of confidence but says confidence and experience can only do so much.

"I think the person who's going to win here is going to be the one that plays the best tennis," Zverev said. "It's sometimes as simple as that."

Khachanov, unseeded at a Slam for the first time since 2018, is certainly capable of producing that. He upset third-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round.

"He's always searching for solutions," Zverev says of the meticulous Russian, who got the better of him in Toronto last year.

"We call him The Professor, actually, because he knows everything about tennis, and he knows every single string tension, knows what everybody does, so that's quite fun. I have massive respect for him."

Frances Tiafoe (USA x11) v Ben Shelton (USA x8)

Shelton leads head to head 3-1

-- The all-American match promises pure theater on Arthur Ashe Stadium and an intriguing clash of styles between the big-hitting left-hander Shelton and shot-maker supreme Tiafoe.

Shelton was at his powerful, athletic best in his dazzling victory over Alcaraz, and Tiafoe will need all of his tactical skills.

While Shelton leads their head-to-head, they have split two prior US Open meetings, Shelton winning in the 2023 quarter-finals and Tiafoe turning the tables in the third round in 2024.

After his "Braveheart-type win" over Michelsen to reach the last four in Flushing Meadows for a third time, Tiafoe said he's a different person than the one who got to the same stage in 2022 and 2024.

"I'm excited to see what this me does come Friday," Tiafoe said.

The third all-American men’s singles semi-final at a major this century has intensified anticipation of a drought-busting triumph for whoever advances.

As the leading contender to follow in Roddick's footsteps, Shelton has fielded the questions and quietly steered clear of the chatter.

"I'm kind of just running my own race and focusing on the next round, thinking about the ways that I can improve and get better and continue to improve my game," he said.

H.Nakamura--JT