If you had told Ben Shelton that he would be playing the second US Open semi-final of his career tonight in July, he might not have believed you. The 23-year-old failed in the first round of Wimbledon and was disappointed. “This year has been a weird season for me,” Shelton admitted. He had three titles under his belt, but a few early exits where it mattered – at the Majors and Masters. There were a lot of things that disappointed him about his game. But two months is a long time for tennis. Shelton started off August by defending his Canadian Open title before traveling to New York and beating Carlos Alcaraz in a late-night instant classic. His Friday night meeting with American Frances Tiafoe is not the first time he has found himself at this stage. In 2023, he was a gregarious upstart a year into his career, with the unvarnished gifts and ego of a future champion. He staged a scandalous celebration: he hung up on his opponents. Before the tournament, he touted himself, saying he wanted to be the one players feared in the draw. And Shelton was like that until Novak Djokovic stopped him, winning in straight sets. At age 20, Shelton was already a box office draw. Shelton is an inexperienced tennis player, the son of former backpacker Brian Shelton, but found the family business “boring” as a child, preferring American football or basketball. It’s not hard to imagine a left arm delivering a 146 mph pitch attached to an NFL quarterback. However, after focusing entirely on tennis at the age of 13, Brian now sits in his box as a coach. Add to the family lore the fact that Shelton is one half of one of America’s most athletic power couples. Since taking to her Instagram DMs in early 2025, USWNT star Trinity Rodman, daughter of NBA legend Dennis, has been frequently on tour and Shelton courtside for her matches with the Washington Spirit when the grueling ATP schedule allows. Ben Shelton’s courageous performance in the US Open quarter-finals against Alcaraz gave him a chance to reach the final. The 23-year-old has reached this stage before, in 2023 (left) – before Novak Djokovic abandoned him to win his 24th Grand Slam. Shelton is now often accompanied by his girlfriend Trinity Rodman, an American blockbuster athlete. All of this has brought Shelton attention, celebrity and wealth – after three years of wearing Roger Federer’s ON brand, he is reportedly set to sign a $10 million deal with New Balance – but the results? This is where things get more complicated. Shelton has been plagued by inconsistency, especially at Grand Slams. He never made it past the fourth round in Paris, and the 2025 Wimbledon quarter-finals are an exception due to early exits. Not to mention he has titles on both natural surfaces. When asked to perform on the biggest stages, his outstanding qualities can turn into fatal flaws. “It’s a challenge to work with a guy like Ben, who is very aggressive,” his father said in July. “There are times when he crosses that line and sabotages himself and doesn’t make it to the second or third round of the tournament.” But the win over Alcaraz showed just how high his ceiling is. The biggest weapon is his delivery. While keeping itself in tip-top shape for its application, it remains covered in canning marks. Shelton is devoted to the healing methods of traditional Chinese medicine and would rather give up caring for his arm than Samson sign up for a trendy haircut. Shelton is also a superb athlete and has proven that he is capable of combining Alcaraz’s lightning-quick movements with his work rate, chasing down shots that should have been impossible and putting them over the net with flair. If Shelton can play like he did against the Spaniard twice more, he could end America’s 23-year wait for a men’s Grand Slam winner. But to do this, he will have to pass another psychological test, defeating his close friend Tiafoe. Tiafoe is a three-time finalist and fellow showman who is putting his best foot forward for his home Slam. Like Shelton, Tiafoe staged his own epic five-set comeback to the semifinals, and since they’ve met twice before, their tournament clash offers a tantalizing possibility of one win apiece. He has previously faced US Open semi-finalist and compatriot Frances Tiafoe twice at their home Grand Slam (pictured in 2023). After defeating Alcaraz, Rodman encouraged Shelton to bring back the once iconic celebration – his confidence reaching new heights at just the right time. The final episode of their trilogy added strength, their clash ensuring there would be a black US Open men’s finalist for the first time since Arthur Ashe in 1972. History is at stake. But Shelton’s form has peaked and he will enter the fight, buoyed by his meeting with Alcaraz, with deadly confidence. At 3:34 a.m. Wednesday morning, Shelton glanced at his box. There, Rodman brazenly picked up the phone as if it were 2023 all over again. Shelton learned a lot in three years. But he answered anyway. Post navigation T-Mobile iPhone Transfer Fee: What It Is, How It Works Anthropic has been on edge this week over cybersecurity.