Ben Shelton is relishing the challenge of a first Grand Slam final against Alexander Zverev in New York, aiming to do it for the USA. Shelton is the first black American man to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972, and hopes to become the first home male player to win the title since Andy Roddick in 2003. He will have a raucous Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd behind him when he takes on German top seed and title favourite Zverev.

Shelton revealed he took advice from Rafael Nadal before his break-out run in New York. The 23-year-old from Florida beat compatriot Frances Tiafoe to set up a winner-takes-all showdown with Zverev, who dispatched Karen Khachanov. His coach and father, Bryan Shelton, called 22-time Grand Slam winner Nadal last month after a first-round defeat in Cincinnati.