Ben Shelton, now 23, has the chance to end a long drought for American men’s tennis by winning the U.S. Open final against top-seeded Alexander Zverev. The last American man to win a Grand Slam was Andy Roddick in 2003. Shelton, who has never beaten Zverev in their previous five encounters, is feeling more confident than ever after defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a historic late-night quarterfinal. If Shelton wins, he would be the first man since 1975 to defeat both the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds on his way to the U.S. Open title. Meanwhile, Zverev, who won the French Open in June, aims to secure his second major title this year. Despite a rocky start, Zverev has been in top form, not dropping a set since the early rounds. He previously lost a two-set lead in the 2020 U.S. Open final, a rare occurrence since 1949.
QUESTION: How might Ben Shelton’s potential victory inspire young American tennis players?
Shelton aims to end an American drought and win his first major title in the US Open final vs Zverev
