Shelton’s father cites Nadal’s lesson after US Open breakthrough
Shelton’s father says Nadal’s advice helped after Cincinnati, as the American reaches his first Slam final.
Ben Shelton’s run to the US Open final has brought a fresh milestone, and his father and coach has explained how a call to Rafael Nadal helped shape the mindset behind it.
Shelton, the eighth seed, beat fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 to secure his first Grand Slam final appearance. In doing so, he moved within one victory of becoming the first American man to lift a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open. He also became the first Black American man to reach a Grand Slam singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
The 23-year-old arrived at the tournament with strong credentials after defending his title at the hard-court Masters 1000 event in Canada. But his form took a sharp hit in Cincinnati, where he lost to Jaime Faria in his opening match. That defeat, according to his father, led to a conversation with the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
“I think you learn from your experiences,” said the elder Shelton during a post-match press conference.
“One bad experience for him, but there’s a silver lining in it.
“He won Montreal, he went to Cincinnati and we said this is going to be the toughest day you’re going to have playing against Faria in the first round in Cincinnati after winning a title. Very few people come from that and have another good tournament the next week.
“He didn’t, he lost the very first round.
“I remember talking to Rafa a couple days after that match, you know I called him up, and Rafa was like you’ve got to be able to get through that first one and have the day off and then be able to get your best tennis again the next week.
“So it was a lesson for Ben that you’ve got to be able to bounce back when good things happen, just as you have to bounce back when adversity or tough things go on.
“So we talked about him beating Carlos and how important it’s going to be that this one is going to be even tougher tonight to bounce back after that.
“Because a lot of people want to rest after they’ve had something good and want to celebrate it. What we say is don’t celebrate until you separate, so you’ve got to win the next match, you’ve got to consolidate it and then somewhere hopefully next week we can celebrate a little bit.”
Shelton now faces world No 2 Zverev in the final, with the German chasing a second Grand Slam title of the season after winning the French Open. Zverev has reached three straight Grand Slam finals and will start as the favourite on paper.
The head-to-head is also firmly in Zverev’s favour. Shelton has won only one of their 11 sets and has lost all five previous meetings, including three in 2025.
Even so, Shelton’s father believes his son’s progress this season gives him a chance to change that pattern.
“Ben has been progressing in the right direction throughout this year,” he added.
“The four titles he has won on different surfaces are proof of that. I think part of that is down to the maturity and discipline he has developed on court. He is willing to suffer a little during exchanges, extend points and really make the most of his athletic ability.
“He and his physical trainer, Gabe Echevarria, got to work after Wimbledon. Losing in the first round at Wimbledon was a bitter pill to swallow, but Ben didn’t crumble.
“He simply got back to work in the Florida heat and put together some incredible weeks of training. I think he is now starting to see the rewards of that work.”
Grand Slam
Navratilova hails Rybakina after commanding US Open final win
Navratilova called Rybakina’s US Open final win over Sabalenka “incredible” after her.
Elena Rybakina’s victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final drew admiration from across the game, with Martina Navratilova calling the display “incredible” after the 27-year-old claimed her second Grand Slam title of 2026.
Rybakina overpowered her longtime rival 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to secure her first US Open crown and underline the authority of her shot-making on the biggest stage. Against Sabalenka, she produced the sort of heavy, clean ball-striking that left little room for a response.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Navratilova was full of praise for the way Rybakina controlled the contest.
“She just played so well,” said 59-time Grand Slam champion Navratilova.
“It was an incredible performance and Sabalenka just couldn’t do anything to stop her. Aryna was on the back foot all through the match and it was a great performance.”
Navratilova also noted how unusual it was to see Sabalenka pushed into a reactive role.
“We do not see that. Usually it’s Sabalenka doing the bullying. I think that’s why Sabalenka didn’t know what to do. She’s used to dictating, to putting people on the defence, on their heels and rushing shots.
“Instead, it was all Rybakina doing that to her. And I did not expect that.
“It’s not that Sabalenka lost the match… Rybakina won it. She earned that win.
“It will be back to the drawing board for Sabalenka. What will she do next time if Rybakina is playing this well?”
Laura Robson also highlighted Rybakina’s composure in the moment, while Marion Bartoli pointed to the scale of the achievement given Rybakina’s previous best result in New York had been the fourth round. Bartoli added that the way she responded early in the third set was “absolutely extraordinary” and said, “She’s only missing Roland Garros now from completing a career Grand Slam.”
1000
Sabalenka’s anger flashes as Rybakina claims the US Open crown
Sabalenka’s emotions nearly cost her in the US Open final as Rybakina sealed a decisive win.
Aryna Sabalenka spent much of the US Open final on the defensive as Elena Rybakina completed a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory, but the match also featured a tense moment when the outgoing world No 1’s frustration boiled over on court.
Sabalenka drove a ball into the crowd during a heated spell in the opening set, then struck another in anger that passed alarmingly close to a cameraman behind the court. The incident drew attention because of how narrowly it avoided a far more serious outcome, with the US Open still mindful of Novak Djokovic’s disqualification in 2020 after a ball he hit struck a line umpire in the throat.
As the match slipped away, Sabalenka again showed her emotions by smashing her racket into the ground before Rybakina sealed the result. She then sat with her boyfirned Georgios Frangulis and her extended coaching team while absorbing her first defeat at the US Open since 2023.
When it came time to address the crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Sabalenka said she was reluctant to speak but made an effort to acknowledge the occasion.
“The last thing I want to do right now is give a speech but I’ll try my best,” said Sabalenka.
“Obviously I’m disappointed, but I want to congratulate Elena on an incredible year, an incredible result.
“Well deserved. Enjoy it tonight, and have fun. So I can win some titles!
“I wish I could have performed a little bit better, but I guess there’s next year.”
Rybakina, meanwhile, described a victory she had not expected when the tournament began.
“It’s tough to find words right now, honestly,” said Rybakina
“I didn’t expect anything like this, coming to this tournament. I was dealing with a bit of an injury, but somehow everything aligned together on my side.
“I was doubting on the court and trying to get all the possible balls.
“I’m falling in love with New York more and more, and it’s amazing memories for me.”
The result was decisive, and while a disqualification in a US Open final would have been an unwanted outcome, Sabalenka’s temper left her walking a fine line.
1000
Rybakina claims US Open crown to complete rise to world No 1
Rybakina beat Sabalenka in New York to win her first US Open title and rise further at No 1.
Elena Rybakina underlined her place at the top of women’s tennis with a straight-talking, high-level win over Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final.
Their latest meeting echoed January’s Australian Open title match, but this time Rybakina’s heavier ball-striking proved decisive again. She began with authority, taking the first set 6-4 after applying sustained pressure and keeping Sabalenka on the back foot.
Sabalenka responded well and forced the contest deeper by edging the second set 7-5. For a brief stretch, the match looked ready to swing her way. Rybakina, however, quickly re-established control in the decider and pulled away to seal the third set 6-2. Even after serving two double faults in the final game, she finished the match with an ace.
The result brought Rybakina her first US Open title and the third Grand Slam trophy of her career. It also added to the Wimbledon title she won in 2022.
The scale of the victory was matched by the prize on offer in 2026, with the US Open increasing its total prize pool by 20% to $108 million across all competitions. Rybakina’s triumph earns her a $5.5m windfall, the largest prize money haul in the history of the women’s game.
Sabalenka will finish 2026 without a Grand Slam title, though she still takes home $2,800,000 as runner-up. That sum is higher than Emma Raducanu received when she won the US Open five years ago.
Rybakina’s points total from New York also strengthens her hold on the world No 1 ranking, giving her more than 2,000 points of cushion over Sabalenka. Sabalenka remains second, with Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff still within reach behind her.
Rybakina has now won three of the four Grand Slam titles, and although clay remains her least preferred surface, the French Open next year offers another chance to add to that record.
Navratilova hails Rybakina after commanding US Open final win
Sabalenka’s anger flashes as Rybakina claims the US Open crown
Rybakina claims US Open crown to complete rise to world No 1
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