US Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz can end the American dream by beating Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe or Alex Mickelsen in New York

If Ash can help the 23-year-old Shelton to his first career win against Alcaraz, an American player is guaranteed to be in the final.

Home-grown stars reaching the men’s semi-finals has not been uncommon this century, but only Taylor Fritz has reached the final – two years ago when he lost to Jannik Sinner – since Roddick lost to Roger Federer in the 2006 final.

Tiafoe, the 11th seed, lost to Fritz in the other All-American semifinal and was also eliminated by Alcaraz at the same stage in 2022.

The 28-year-old is now hoping for a third opportunity to reach his first Grand Slam final.

Tiafoe reached the final in Cincinnati last month and, riding on the energy of the New York crowd, maintained his momentum.

On what it was like to receive such support, he said: “It’s an out-of-body experience, without a doubt. It is impossible to explain this type of feeling.

“It’s like at some point you don’t even touch the ground. The energy is so high and the level of play seems to match that.”

While Tiafoe is one of the sport’s greatest entertainers, Michelsen, 22, is more reserved.

The world number 46 admits he was happy to fly “under the radar” at Flushing Meadows while the likes of Tiafoe, Shelton, Fritz and Tommy Paul hogged the limelight.

But earning a place in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time without dropping a set means Michelsen will be on Ash’s radar.

“The first, second, third rounds, all the matches I’m on nerves. This is a human experience,” he said.

“But it’s just about going out there and managing them to the best of your ability. I feel like I did it very well.”