A couple of US Open semi-finals to dig into today, and honestly both matchups have very different vibes. One's a coin flip between two big-serving Americans, the other's about as close to a foregone conclusion as you'll get at this stage of a Slam. Which of these guys do you think punches their ticket to the final?
US Open Predictions
Frances Tiafoe vs Ben Shelton
Head-to-head: Tiafoe 1-3 Shelton
Shelton leads this rivalry and has done so pretty convincingly, but Tiafoe's lone win did come at a Slam, so it's not like he doesn't know how to beat the guy when the stakes are high. Both players thrive on energy and the Arthur Ashe crowd, and Tiafoe in particular has built something of a reputation as a New York specialist. That home-crowd factor is basically a wash here since both are American, but Tiafoe does tend to absorb big moments better than Shelton, who can go a little sideways when things get tight.
That said, Shelton's serve is just a nightmare to deal with on this surface and he's been the more consistent of the two throughout the fortnight. I think this goes the distance, but Shelton finds enough free points on serve in the big moments to get through.
Prediction: Shelton in 3
Alexander Zverev vs Karen Khachanov
Head-to-head: Zverev 6-3 Khachanov
Zverev has beaten Khachanov six times out of nine, and looking at the trajectory of both players' careers right now, that gap has only grown. Khachanov at a Slam semi-final is a solid run, but Zverev is genuinely one of the two or three best players in the world at the moment and has been for a while now. The slow hard courts at Flushing Meadows, which tend to reward patient baseliners, suit Zverev's game, giving him time to set up his forehand in long rallies, and Khachanov doesn't have the weapons to hurt him before those rallies develop.
Hard to see this being competitive at all.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
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