BEN SHELTON JUST TOLD AMERICA: “MOVE OVER, I GOT THIS!”

Listen… somebody better check on Frances Tiafoe, because Ben Shelton just walked into Arthur Ashe Stadium, grabbed the American tennis torch, and basically said:

“I GOT IT FROM HERE, FELLAS!”

Ben Shelton defeated fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 Friday night and punched his ticket to the US Open final.

And let me tell you something…

This wasn't just a tennis match. This was America vs. America, with the winner getting the right to carry the entire country's tennis hopes on his back Sunday.

No pressure, Ben.

Just the hopes of millions of Americans who have been waiting since 2003 for an American man to win a Grand Slam.

That's all.

No big deal.

Just bring home the trophy.

## BEN SHELTON IS NOW AMERICA'S TENNIS PROBLEM

Shelton is only 23 years old, but apparently he decided that's old enough to become responsible for the entire American men's tennis department.

His résumé just got a serious upgrade. He's now playing in his first Grand Slam final, and he's the first Black American man to reach a US Open men's final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.

Let that sink in.

1972!

That's not a statistic. That's a history book.

And now Shelton has a chance to put his name next to some of the biggest names in American tennis history.

But there's one little problem standing between him and that trophy.

His name is Alexander Zverev.

And unfortunately for Ben, Zverev has been beating him like he's collecting frequent-flyer miles.

## SHELTON HAS NEVER BEATEN ZVEREV

Shelton's career record against Zverev?

0-5.

That's right. Five meetings. Five losses. ZERO wins.

But here's the good news:

Sunday is the one that matters.

And this time, they're playing for a Grand Slam championship.

So Ben basically has to walk into this match and say:

“Yeah, I know you've beaten me five times… but I only need to beat you once.”

And honestly?

I like that attitude.

## BUT THIS DUDE IS ALREADY TIRED!

Here's the crazy part.

Shelton just beat Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals in a match that didn't finish until 3:33 in the morning.

THREE.

THIRTY.

THREE.

A.M.

Most people at 3:33 in the morning are asleep. Ben Shelton was apparently like:

“Anybody got another tennis ball?”

And then he comes back against Tiafoe and wins another four-set war.

Twenty aces. Big serves. Big energy. Big attitude.

This man isn't playing tennis anymore.

He's apparently playing Call of Duty with a racket.

## TIAFOE FOUGHT… BUT SHELTON WOULD NOT LEAVE

Give Frances Tiafoe credit.

He fought. He competed. He made Shelton work.

But after taking the first set, Tiafoe couldn't maintain the same level, and Shelton started serving absolute missiles.

We're talking serves around 140 mph. At one point, he hit 144 mph.

144!

Brother…

At that speed, that's not a serve.

That's a traffic violation.

Tiafoe practically had to defend himself.

And eventually, Shelton took control of the match.

The final game of the third set was ridiculous. It lasted 15 minutes and went 20 points.

Twenty points!

At that point, somebody should've brought them sandwiches.

But Shelton finally got the break and took the third set. From there, Tiafoe was fighting uphill.

And Shelton wasn't interested in giving him a ride.

## AMERICA HAS BEEN WAITING 23 YEARS

Now here's where this story gets really interesting.

The last American man to win a Grand Slam?

Andy Roddick.

That was 23 years ago.

Some of y'all reading this weren't even born yet. Some of y'all were still wearing JNCO jeans. Some of y'all were watching Friends.

And some of y'all were still asking your parents for permission to use the internet.

Since Roddick won the US Open in 2003, American men have lost six straight Grand Slam finals.

Six.

So now Ben Shelton has the opportunity to finally break the drought.

And he's doing it on the biggest stage possible: Arthur Ashe Stadium, in front of an American crowd, against the No. 1 seed, for the US Open championship.

That's the kind of pressure that either creates a legend…

or makes you suddenly understand why people enjoy pickleball.

## AND THEN THERE'S TIAFOE…

Frances Tiafoe is now 0-3 in Grand Slam semifinal matches.

And unfortunately for him, all three losses have come at the US Open.

That's a tough one.

Because Tiafoe keeps getting close. He keeps making deep runs. He keeps giving America something to cheer about.

But the semifinal keeps telling him:

“Nah, brother. Not today.”

And this time, it was another American who sent him home.

## SUNDAY IS FOR AMERICA

Now Ben Shelton gets his shot.

A US Open final.

Against Alexander Zverev.

The German star already won the French Open this year, so he's looking to add another Grand Slam trophy.

But Shelton has something bigger riding on this.

He's trying to become the first American man since Andy Roddick in 2003 to win a major. He's trying to become the first former college player to win a major since John McEnroe in 1984.

And he's trying to make history as a Black American man on the biggest stage in American tennis.

That's a lot.

But Shelton doesn't seem scared.

After beating Tiafoe, he basically told the crowd:

“I'm going for it. I'm leaving it all on the court. Come back me. Let's do it for the USA.”

Well, Ben…

YOU SAID IT.

Now you gotta do it.

Because Sunday isn't just another tennis match.

It's Ben Shelton vs. Alexander Zverev.

It's USA vs. Germany.

It's 0-5 vs. “I only need one.”

And most importantly…

It's 23 years of American men's tennis frustration vs. one 23-year-old kid with a 144-mph serve and absolutely no interest in playing small.

So Ben…

Grab that racket.

Bring the serve.

Bring the attitude.

Bring the whole country with you.

Because if you win Sunday, America might finally have another men's Grand Slam champion.

And if you lose?

Well…

I'm going to pretend I never said any of this.

LET'S GO, BEN!

— Errol Marks