US Open Tennis 2026 US Open tennis 2026 men’s semi-final: Frances Tiafoe v Ben Shelton – live 🎾 Updates from the second men’s semi-final in New York 🎾 Zverev takes out Khachanov in straight sets to make final 🎾 Andrew Lawrence: in praise of five-set tennis | Mail Bryan LIVE Updated 1m ago Bryan Armen Graham at Flushing Meadows Sat 12 Sep 2026 03.13 BSTFirst published on Fri 11 Sep 2026 23.17 BST Share Key events 19m ago Shelton wins third set, 6-3!
1h ago Shelton wins second set, 6-3!
2h ago Tiafoe wins first set, 6-4!
4h ago Preamble Ben Shelton returns the ball to Frances Tiafoe during their US Open semi-final on Friday.
4h ago Preamble Fourth set: *Tiafoe 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 0-1 Shelton (*denotes next server) Tiafoe went off court for a wardrobe change between sets, taking about eight minutes before play resumed in the fourth.
It may have done him good.
Shelton blinks first in an 18-shot rally then misses on a backhand for love-30.
After hitting a backhand winner, he follows with a double fault for 15-40 and double break point.
Tiafoe wastes the first with an unforced error off the backhand, then Shelton erases the second with a 140mph ace for deuce.
Shelton then errs off the backhand for a third break-point chance, which he’s able to erase.
Now Tiafoe raised a hand to stop play and Shelton serves anyway, thinking he won the point.
Tiafoe disputes it, asking to replay the point.
Both players approach the chair.
Cooler heads prevail and the point is replayed.
From there Shelton is able to serve himself out of trouble and hold to open the fourth.
A 10-minute, 12-point gauntlet.
We’ve also learned there was a miscalculation by the speed gun during the last set and Shelton’s alleged record-breaking 158mph serve was actually somewhere in the mid-140s.
Isner’s record is restored and safe.
Third set: Tiafoe 6-4, 3-6, 3-6 Shelton Danger zone for Tiafoe, who makes a couple of unforced errors to go behind love-30 on his serve.
He really won’t want Shelton serving first with a two-sets-to-one lead.
He’s able to scratch back for 30-all, but Shelton wins the next exchange for 30-40 and set point.
The full house swells.
Shelton misses on a forehand early in the point for deuce.
Shelton follows with a forehand winner for a second set point ... and he saves that one too after Tiafoe play a touch volley, then a lob, then an overhand smash for deuce.
Tiafoe pounds a forehand winner for game point, Shelton answers with a backhand winner for another deuce.
Now Tiafoe frames a forehand and it’s a third set point for Shelton in a game that’s gone more than nine minutes.
And Shelton misses a forehand for deuce number four.
Deuce number five.
Deuce number six.
Deuce number seven.
And finally Shelton is able to stake a fourth set point ... and this time he converts!
A marathon 20-point game spanning more than 15 minutes and Shelton snatches it to move within a set of his first grand slam final!
Third set: *Tiafoe 6-4, 3-6, 3-5 Shelton (*denotes next server) Shelton holds at love, crushing his 11th and 12th aces of the night.
Tiafoe will serve to stay in the third set.
Third set: Tiafoe 6-4, 3-6, 3-4 Shelton* (*denotes next server) Tiafoe holds at love.
Much-needed.
Shelton had won 10 of the previous 11 points before that game.
Third set: *Tiafoe 6-4, 3-6, 2-4 Shelton (*denotes next server) Shelton strolls through his service game to consolidate the break.
Shelton breaks in fifth game of third set!
Third set: Tiafoe 6-4, 3-6, 2-3 Shelton* (*denotes next server) Another scratchy service game for Tiafoe and he’s quickly down love-40, gifting Shelton three break-point chances.
And he needs only one!
Shelton rips a cross-court backhand winner to finish off a 10-shot rally and secure the break for his first lead of the night.
Ben Shelton reacts during Friday’s match.
2 mph set by John Isner at the 2016 Davis Cup.
Well then.
He gets to 40-15 before Tiafoe pushes it to deuce.
But Shelton wins two quick points from there to nail down the hold.
Allow content provided by a third party?
This article includes content hosted on platform.x.com.
We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as the provider may be using cookies and other technologies.
To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'.
Third set: Tiafoe 6-4, 3-6, 2-1 Shelton* (*denotes next server) The nerves creep in for Tiafoe, who hits a couple of scratchy forehands and suddenly finds himself 15-40 and double break point down.
He’s made to work to save the first one, getting the best of a 31-shot rally from the baseline, the longest exchange of the night.
He then saves the second on a quick point for deuce.
Tiafoe wins another 21-shot point to move within a point of the hold and Shelton is going to approach the chair umpire to complain that Tiafoe is going past the serve clock.
It’s been three straight points for Tiafoe where the clock has elapsed past zero and there’s yet to be a warning given.
We’ll see what comes of that.
Tiafoe then wins the next point to hold, winning four on the trot from 15-40 down.
Third set: *Tiafoe 6-4, 3-6, 1-1 Shelton (*denotes next server) And Shelton answers with an easy hold of his own, pounding his 10th ace of the night along the way, a 132mph missile down the middle.
Third set: Tiafoe 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 Shelton* (*denotes next server) Stress-free hold for Tiafoe to open the third set.
Frances Tiafoe returns the ball to Ben Shelton during their US Open semi-final on Friday.
P Second set: Tiafoe 6-4, 3-6 Shelton Shelton doesn’t fool around, rattling off three quick points for triple set point.
He squanders the first despite battering Tiafoe back with a 149mph serve, but Tiafoe nets a return on the next one.
Shelton takes set two after 34 minutes.
Shelton breaks in eighth game of second set!
Second set: Tiafoe 6-4, 3-5 Shelton* (*denotes next server) With Tiafoe serving at 15-30, a sensational 17-shot rally ensues which the older American finally caps with a highlight-reel backhand winner.
It’s 30-all.
But Shelton follows with a backhand winner for 30-40 and break point ... and he converts it when Tiafoe errs off the forehand side!
Shelton pumps a fist and plays to the crowd and will serve for the second set!
Second set: *Tiafoe 6-4, 3-4 Shelton (*denotes next server) Shelton falls behind love-15, but reels four quick unreturnable serves: 125mph, 144mph, 139mph, 140mph.
It’s a hold and they’re still on serve in the second.
Second set: Tiafoe 6-4, 3-3 Shelton* (*denotes next server) Another drama-free hold for Tiafoe, who’s won eight of nine points on his serve since getting broken at love.
Second set: *Tiafoe 6-4, 2-3 Shelton (*denotes next server) An emphatic service game for Shelton, who holds at love to stay on serve.
Ben Shelton follows through on a shot against Frances Tiafoe during their US Open semi-final on Friday.
We’ve just hit the hour mark in what could be a long night.
Tiafoe breaks in third game of second set!
Second set: *Tiafoe 6-4, 1-2 Shelton (*denotes next server) Now it’s Shelton who buckles on his serve.
He misfires a backhand for love-15, then sees Tiafoe pound consecutive winners for love-40 and triple break point.
Shelton is able to save the first, but he makes another unforced error off the backhand to gift the break right back.
We’re back on serve in the second.
Shelton breaks in second game of second set!
Second set: Tiafoe 6-4, 0-2 Shelton* (*denotes next server) Well, well, well.
Tiafoe’s first serve goes into full revolt as Shelton is able to break at love to take the upper hand early in the second.
Second set: *Tiafoe 6-4, 0-1 Shelton (*denotes next server) Shelton shakes it off and holds comfortably to open the second set.
