Shelton takes down Tiafoe to seal Zverev showdown in US Open final

BREAKING: Ben Shelton beats Frances Tiafoe to reach the US Open final, setting up a title showdown with Alexander Zverev.

Ben Shelton is into the US Open final, and he went through his friend to get there.

He beat Frances Tiafoe in the semis, an all-American showdown between two guys who genuinely like each other, and there's the celebration right here. That's a man who knows he's one win from the biggest night of his life.

Shelton's whole game is violence with a smile. Look at this forehand, the lefty serve behind it comes down like weather, and on a New York night court with that crowd behind him he's a very uncomfortable opponent.

Waiting on the other side is Alexander Zverev, who we covered yesterday, still chasing the one trophy that keeps slipping through his fingers. So the final writes itself. The veteran desperate to finally land a slam, against the young American who thinks the future starts now. Somebody's story ends in tears on Sunday.

This is Liu Yang, reporting for HIT.