It’s the second men’s semifinal at Flushing Meadows, and the battle most fans are talking about: Ben Shelton vs. Frances Tiafoe. An all American clash with two players in great form. They are both close to becoming the first American man to get a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick in 2003.
Below is our match preview together with our predictions and odds
Ben Shelton vs Frances Tiafoe
Both Americans arrive off the back of instant classics. Shelton outlasted defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set epic, 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7), that didn’t finish until 3:33 a.m., the latest conclusion in US Open history. Tiafoe matched that drama two days earlier, coming back from two sets and a break down to beat Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6, over four hours and 38 minutes, with Michelsen serving for the match along the way.
Shelton leads their head-to-head 3-1, with their two previous meetings at this tournament split 1-1. The most recent meeting came last year in Washington, D.C., where Shelton won 7-6(2), 6-4.
Predictions
Both men are running on serious mileage from their quarterfinals, so freshness might matter as much as form here. Shelton’s serve is the bigger swing factor in tight moments and tiebreaks, and the head-to-head backs him as the slight favorite, but Tiafoe has a habit of producing his best tennis exactly when the stage gets this big.
What comes to mind here is the “Giant Killer” effect and Shelton is just coming from the biggest win in his career, it can lead to them being exhausted, not only physically but also mentally. Can he produce another top level performance?
Shelton is clearly playing the best tennis of his life, and has much improved his defense and return game. He now had two days to recover from the late Alcaraz clash, I believe he will fully prepared and get through this challenge.
It will be a tight and often nervy matchup, I think the odds on Shelton are way too low (1.30 or -350 to win) but I still predict he will be in the final on Sunday.
