Updates from the second men’s semi-final in New York
Zverev takes out Khachanov in straight sets to make final
Andrew Lawrence: in praise of five-set tennis | Mail Bryan

Shelton is attempting to become the youngest American man to reach a US Open final since Andy Roddick won the title here at 21 in 2003. The 23-year-old has been remarkably efficient when reaching the business end of tournaments this season: he has made four previous semi-finals – Dallas, Munich, Stuttgart and Montreal – and won the title every time. Those trophies also made him the first American man since Sam Querrey in 2010 to win tour titles on hard, clay and grass in the same season. Tonight he will go for five finals from five semi-final appearances.

If tonight’s match turns into another war of attrition, both men appeared seasoned for the task. Tiafoe has already spent 16hr 3min on court across five matches, the fourth-longest journey to a US Open semi-final since the ATP began tracking match times in 1991. Shelton is only slightly fresher at 15hr 41min. Tiafoe has played 19 sets and Shelton 20, with both coming through five-set quarter-finals. The difference is down to literal mileage: Shelton has covered 44,143ft during the tournament to Tiafoe’s 39,472ft.

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