US Open 2026 Men’s Semifinals Set! Tiafoe vs Shelton and Zverev vs Khachanov

The US Open 2026 men's singles draw has reached its final four, and the semifinal lineup has delivered two fascinating matchups. Frances Tiafoe will face fellow American Ben Shelton, while top seed Alexander Zverev meets Karen Khachanov.

With Carlos Alcaraz, Alex Michelsen, Botic van de Zandschulp and Alexander Blockx eliminated in the quarterfinals, only four players remain in the hunt for the final Grand Slam title of the season.

Frances Tiafoe vs Ben Shelton

The first semifinal is an all-American showdown between Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton.

Tiafoe reached the final four after producing one of the tournament's biggest comebacks. The No. 11 seed recovered from two sets down against Alex Michelsen, winning 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6) in a dramatic five-set battle.

Shelton also survived an epic quarterfinal. The No. 8 seed defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(5-7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7), ending the Spaniard's title defense and reaching his first US Open semifinal.

Tiafoe's Comeback Against Michelsen

Tiafoe looked to be heading out after losing the opening two sets to Michelsen. Instead, the American changed the momentum, battled through the third and fourth sets and eventually won the deciding tiebreak.

The victory continued Tiafoe's strong connection with the New York crowd and gave him another opportunity to reach a Grand Slam final.

Shelton Stuns Defending Champion Alcaraz

Shelton's route to the semifinal was equally dramatic. He lost the first set to Alcaraz in a tiebreak before taking control of the second and third sets.

Alcaraz responded by winning the fourth set 6-1, but Shelton held his nerve in the deciding-set tiebreak to complete one of the biggest victories of his career.

That result removed the defending champion from the tournament and opened up the bottom half of the men's draw.

Alexander Zverev vs Karen Khachanov

The other semifinal features top seed Alexander Zverev against Karen Khachanov.

Zverev advanced with a dominant 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Botic van de Zandschulp. The German has now reached his fourth major semifinal of the 2026 season and his 13th Grand Slam semifinal overall.

Khachanov booked his place in the final four after Alexander Blockx retired while trailing 6-2, 7-5, 3-2. The Russian was in control of the match before Blockx was forced to stop because of injury.

Zverev's Grand Slam Opportunity

Zverev arrives at the semifinal having already won his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros earlier this year. The top seed is now two victories away from adding the US Open trophy to his 2026 French Open championship.

His victory over van de Zandschulp was also his 23rd Grand Slam match win of the year, breaking Boris Becker's German record of 22 from 1989.

Khachanov Reaches Another US Open Semifinal

Khachanov is back in the US Open semifinals for the second time in his career. He previously reached this stage in 2022 before losing to eventual runner-up Casper Ruud.

The Russian has never reached a Grand Slam final. His latest run gives him another opportunity to break that barrier.

Who Has the Edge?

The all-American semifinal could come down to who handles the occasion better after two exhausting quarterfinals. Both Tiafoe and Shelton have shown the ability to win five-set battles and thrive in front of the New York crowd.

On the other side of the draw, Zverev enters as the highest remaining seed and the only player in the semifinal with a Grand Slam title already secured in 2026. Khachanov, however, has the experience of reaching this stage before and has beaten Zverev on hard courts.

US Open 2026 Men's Semifinal Lineup

The men's draw has produced a fascinating mix of American momentum, Grand Slam experience and a genuine chance for a new US Open champion.

One American is guaranteed to reach the final, while Zverev and Khachanov will battle for the other spot. The next two matches will decide which two players remain standing for Sunday's championship match.