Coco Gauff Admits She ‘Never Thought’ She’d See All-Black Men’s Grand Slam Semifinal Ahead of Historic Ben Shelton-Frances Tiafoe US Open Clash

Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe have set up a blockbuster semifinal match at the US Open. The match, unsurprisingly, will be held on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 11.

It was Arthur Ashe who, back in 1968, became the first Black man to win a Grand Slam singles title when he defeated Tom Okker in the US Open final. Ashe scripted that history on September 9.

And on this very same day this year, Coco Gauff defeated Mirra Andreeva to reach the US Open semifinals. This year in the New York Slam, three Black players have reached the semifinals: Gauff, Ben Shelton, and Frances Tiafoe. The 28-year-old overcame a two-set deficit to defeat compatriot Alex Michelsen. And then came the tournament’s biggest shock: defending champion Carlos Alcaraz crashed out after losing a thrilling five-set battle to Shelton.

Shelton and Tiafoe will face off in what will also be the first all-Black men’s Grand Slam semifinal in the Open Era. At the press conference after her quarterfinal win, when the discussion turned to Black history, Gauff was asked whether she had texted Shelton or Tiafoe after their respective quarterfinal matches.

I don’t really like to do it in the middle of the tournament because I feel like it’s a bad luck omen, so I usually don’t like to text anyone while they’re playing the tournament. I don’t want to screw up momentum… With Arthur Ashe, I think it’s so incredible.

Gauff, in fact, had never thought she would see a Grand Slam semifinal match being played between two Black American men in the Open Era.

Especially on the men’s side, I never thought I’d have the chance to see an all-Black semifinal between the guys in my lifetime. Even growing up, just look at who was playing. I just never thought that would be able to happen. To have also me in the semis, I think it’s really cool. I have so much respect for both Ben and Frances. I’m just rooting for a good match. Hopefully whoever wins can bring it home.

Coco Gauff added

Shelton holds a 3-1 head-to-head lead over Tiafoe, with the lone victory that the World No.12 registered came in their penultimate meeting, in the third round of the 2024 US Open. It was in their home Slam back in 2023 that they met for the first time (Shelton won that match).

Mirra Andreeva reflects on her defeat to Coco Gauff

Mirra Andreeva was aiming to win the second Grand Slam title of her career after her win at the French Open this year. Before this season, the Russian ace had never made it past the third round of the US Open.

She has now lost to Coco Gauff for the sixth consecutive time. And it was also the second time they met this season, following the quarterfinals of the Italian Open. At the press conference after her exit, the 19-year-old explained what makes the two-time Grand Slam singles champion a tough opponent.

I think she’s just more patient than me in a way that, at some moments, she makes less mistakes and obviously, she gets a lot of balls back, which I think after I’m the one that’s trying to rush and make more mistakes than her. So, I think something to also see and take into account for the next matches that I’ll play against her.

Gauff will lock horns with Elena Rybakina in the semifinals. Rybakina’s win over Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinals ensured that a new player will start next week as the World No.1 player. Gauff and Rybakina are 1-1 in the head-to-head matchups.

Also read: Alexandra Eala Given Breakout Star Label Despite Third-Round US Open Exit Sparks Wild Reactions – “Did She Win Anything at All?”