Ben Shelton dedicates US Open run to late grandmother, honours 9/11 victims

Ben Shelton's journey to the US Open final has already given American tennis a moment to savour, but for the 23-year-old, the achievement carries a deeply personal meaning. After reaching his first Grand Slam final, Shelton dedicated his run to his late grandmother and paid tribute to the families affected by the 9/11 attacks.

Shelton booked his place in Sunday's final by beating fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in a gripping semi-final at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Speaking after the victory, Shelton opened up about his family's sacrifices and the role his late grandmother played in making his journey possible.

US OPEN 2026 MEN'S SINGLES SEMI-FINALS: HIGHLIGHTSBen Shelton recognized the significance of the day for the United States in his post-match interview. pic.twitter.com/hm4PmL8h1b— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2026

“It's a lot of emotion. My dad and my mom have sacrificed a lot to be in this position today. My dad lost his mom earlier this year, and she's the reason that he was able to play tennis,” Shelton said.

“Without her, there's no Ben Shelton standing here today. This one is for her,” he added.Ben recognizes his family's sacrifices and hard work it took to get here pic.twitter.com/yZXKG27APp— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2026

Shelton's victory also carried historic significance, as he became the first Black American man to reach the US Open men's singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972. He will now face world No.1 Alexander Zverev, with the opportunity to become the first American man since Andy Roddick in 2003 to win a Grand Slam title.

Shelton knows the atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium could play a major role in Sunday's final and urged the home crowd to get behind him as he prepares for the biggest match of his career.

“I'm gonna need you guys (the crowd) on Sunday to bring the energy. I'm going for it here. I'm leaving it all on the court. I hope you come and back me. Let's do this for the USA,” Shelton said.Ben's biggest moment has arrived! pic.twitter.com/kBUBCxJV6U— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2026

The American then took a moment to acknowledge the significance of September 11 and offered his thoughts to those affected by the attacks.

“And one more thing — it's a difficult day to be out here playing. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families who were impacted by 9/11. This is one of the greatest cities in the world,” he said.

Shelton's run has already ended a long wait for an American man in the US Open final, but the bigger prize remains. Andy Roddick was the last American man to win a Grand Slam when he defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero in the 2003 US Open final, and Shelton can now follow him 23 years later.ZVEREV STANDS BETWEEN SHELTON AND HISTORY

Standing in Shelton's way is Zverev, who defeated Karen Khachanov in the other semi-final. The German has won all five of his previous meetings with Shelton, including their most recent clash at the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals, where Zverev prevailed in straight sets.

The two have never met at a Grand Slam, adding another layer to Sunday's showdown. For Shelton, a first victory over Zverev would not only deliver his maiden major title but also make him the first American man since Roddick to lift the US Open trophy and the first Black American man to reach that landmark since Ashe.- EndsPublished By: Debodinna ChakrabortyPublished On: Sep 12, 2026 09:19 IST