Why Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe’s Houston final was groundbreaking for US Tennis
Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe delivered a final to remember in Houston, and not just because of the quality of the match itself
In many ways, it was a showpiece showdown that all those involved in the tournament would have dreamed of, with two Americans battling out on home soil.
And those two Americans happened to be Shelton, the rising star of the US men’s game, and Tiafoe, the defending Houston champion and perhaps the most popular US ATP star currently.
It was a final that had the Houston crowd on the edge of their seats, both men defying previous clay court jitters to deliver an encounter high in quality and drama.
Ultimately it was rising star Shelton who prevailed, usurping the former champion with an enthralling 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory seeing him claim his second ATP title.
Shelton will be ranked US No 1 for the first time next week, but the final holds more significance than any individual result or rankings outcome it could have produced.
Read More: Ben Shelton set to claim huge rankings prize after winning first clay court title in Houston
A game-changing moment for African-American tennis
In a seismic moment not only for American tennis, but the global game as a whole, Shelton and Tiafoe were the first two African-American players to face off in an ATP final.
Shelton acknowledged Tiafoe’s influence after the match, saying: “You’ve been such an inspiration to kids, people of colour in our sport. Just an amazing representation.
“You’ve been that guy to always put on for us and always be selfless, thinking about others, kids younger than you, so thanks for everything you do for our sport and people who look like me and you.”
“You’ve been such an inspiration to kids, people of color in our sport… Thanks for everything you do for our sport and people who look like you and me.”@BenShelton on @FTiafoe#USClay pic.twitter.com/2Yi8uwjlGO
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 7, 2024
The US has a rich history of producing top African-American ATP stars, most notably in the form of the trailblazing Arthur Ashe.
During his playing career Ashe laid down a pathway for countless other players to follow in his footsteps, winning three Grand Slam singles titles – including Wimbledon in 1975.
In the decades since then the likes of 1996 Wimbledon finalist MaliVai Washington, former world No 4 James Blake, Donald Young, and even Shelton’s own father Bryan have made their mark on the ATP.
Tiafoe, Shelton, Christopher Eubanks, and Michael Mmoh are among those forging their own legacies now, and the significance of Sunday’s final cannot be overestimated.
There is certainly more tennis can do to reach further into audiences it has perhaps not appealed to or has alienated in the past, but it will be hoped that countless young children will be able to take inspiration from seeing the likes of Shelton and Tiafoe play not just in Houston, but across the tennis circuit.
It has taken until the 56th year of the Open Era for this historic barrier to have been broken down; hopefully, it won’t take another half-century to see the feat repeated.
