NEW YORK, Sept 12 — Big-serving Ben Shelton overpowered American compatriot Frances Tiafoe in four sets to reach the first Grand Slam final of his career at the US Open on Friday.

Eighth-seeded Shelton blasted 20 aces on his way to a thrilling 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 victory on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court that sends the 23-year-old into Sunday’s championship match against top-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany.

A pulsating all-American semi-final had seen both players vying to reach a Grand Slam final for the first time.

Shelton — who took down defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals — will now have the chance to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam title since 2003, when Andy Roddick triumphed at the US Open.

Tiafoe got off to a bright start, claiming the first set after breaking when Shelton uncharacteristically double-faulted to trail at 5-4.

Tiafoe held to love to clinch the first set but Shelton came flying out of the blocks to start the second.

An early break helped him into a 2-0 lead before Tiafoe responded with a break to level at 2-2.

Yet with Tiafoe’s serve increasingly erratic, Shelton grabbed another break in the eighth game to go 5-3 up and then held to level.

The momentum was all with Shelton and Tiafoe had to fight off two break points before holding early in the third set.

However Shelton – who had one serve initially clocked at 158mph before it was later adjusted to 144mph — made no mistake in the fifth game with a break to go 3-2 up.

Tiafoe needed to hold to keep the set alive in the ninth game, and a furious arm-wrestle saw the 11th seed once again save three break and set points.

Shelton though earned his fourth break point after pouncing on Tiafoe’s second serve once more, scorching a backhand return down the line.

Shelton converted that when Tiafoe netted a forehand to find himself 2-1 down.

The fourth set went with serve until the 12th game, when Shelton grabbed the crucial break to seal victory. — AFP