Shelton seeks to solve Grand Slam puzzle in US Open final

TLE DESK: Ben Shelton believes his improved ability to solve problems on court can help him overcome Alexander Zverev and win his maiden Grand Slam title in Sunday’s US Open final.

The 23-year-old American powered into the first major final of his career on Friday, defeating close friend Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semi-final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The eighth seed produced a commanding performance to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in front of a raucous home crowd.

Shelton’s run in New York has already included the biggest victory of his career — a five-set quarter-final triumph over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

The American fired 20 aces against Tiafoe and said his success at Flushing Meadows had been built on combining his physical strength with greater tactical awareness.

“I think that problem-solving has been the name of the game here,” Shelton said.

“It’s been a lot of uphill battle, so I think that I’m fully ready for the challenge to problem-solve.”

Confidence at an all-time high

Shelton had lost all three of his previous meetings with Alcaraz before finally overcoming the Spaniard in the quarter-finals.

He said the experience of defeating opponents he had previously struggled against had transformed his belief in his game.

“I feel that I’m a different player. I feel like I have so many more tools. I feel like I know my identity, am comfortable in my own skin, and I know what it takes for me to be playing top-level tennis,” he said.

“I know what I’m up against, and I’m also the most confident I’ve ever been in my game.”

Shelton said reaching the final had taken him into unfamiliar territory after a tournament in which he had repeatedly broken new ground.

“For me, this whole tournament now at this point has been uncharted territory,” he said.

“I’m in positions I’ve never been in before. I’ve beaten guys that I have never beaten before. I’m just excited to put it all out on the line.”

History within reach

Shelton is now one victory away from becoming the first American man in 23 years to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Andy Roddick was the last American man to lift a major trophy, winning the US Open in 2003.

But Shelton insists the weight of history will not overwhelm him when he faces top seed Zverev on Sunday.

“I think that I handle these big situations in my career pretty well,” he said. “I feel that confidence and belief take over.”

He acknowledged that nerves would inevitably be part of the occasion but said he had learned to embrace them.

“The nerves are always there. It’s something that you got to kind of lean into,” Shelton said.

“For me I’m having fun, you know? This is an enjoyable moment for me and knowing that I can leave it all out there on the court and push myself to the absolute limit is an exciting, exciting thought.”