Shelton and Tiafoe set for historic US Open semifinal

Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe will meet in a historic U.S. Open men's semifinal on Friday, marking the first time two Black American men will face each other in a Grand Slam semifinal in the Open Era. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the court named for the last Black American man to win the title, Arthur Ashe, in 1968. The encounter carries significant historical weight, occurring on the 58th anniversary of Ashe's 1968 U.S. Open victory. The winner will advance to Sunday's final, seeking to become the first Black American man in a major final since Ashe. Fellow American star Coco Gauff, who also reached the semifinals, expressed her amazement at the milestone. "I never thought I would see, be able to have the chance to see, like an all-Black semifinal between the guys in my lifetime, honestly," Gauff said. "Even growing up, just look at who was playing, I just never thought that that would be able to happen." Gauff, who lost her own semifinal to Elena Rybakina, said she is rooting for a good match and hopes the winner can "bring it home.