Ben Shelton is trending because he has reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, where he will face top seed Alexander Zverev on Sunday. Shelton beat Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semi-final to secure his place. The final gives him a chance to become the first American man to win a major title in 23 years, ending a wait that stretches back to 2003. That historic opportunity, combined with the pressure of playing for the title at home, is driving much of the attention.
His semi-final performance is also generating coverage, particularly his powerful serve and a standout rally with Tiafoe. Shelton thought one serve had reached 158mph, but Hawk-Eye recorded it at 144mph. Alongside those highlights, the focus is now on whether he can beat Zverev and turn his first appearance in a Grand Slam final into a title for American men’s tennis.
