US Open star Ben Shelton wants the fear factor Mike Tyson and Roger Federer enjoyed

Ben Shelton may have only just made his first Grand Slam semi-final, but he already wants the world fearing him.

The 20-year-old US star beat countryman Frances Tiafoe 6-2 3-6 7-6(7) 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to book himself a final four spot against Novak Djokovic at Flushing Meadows.

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There aren’t more terrifying sights in professional sport than facing the Serb, who now has a record 23 Grand Slam titles after winning the French Open this year.

But Shelton, the Georgia-born phenom, is already hoping he can have a similar impact on his opponents.

Speaking to fellow Americans Tiafoe and Chris Eubanks ahead of his home tournament, he said: “I want to be that dude in the draw that there’s not one player that wants to see me.”

Eubanks responded: “Who wants to see you right now? Carlos Alcaraz does not want to see your name next to his. I can promise you that.”

But Shelton had to correct him.

“I’m not talking just doesn’t want,” he said. “I’m talking scared of me, like genuine.

“Roger [Federer] in his prime, he pulls up to a tournament, you aint telling me… everyone’s thinking about him.”

Eubanks got the point, adding: “He comes into the locker room, he’s floating, everybody’s like, ‘oh that’s Roger’.”

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That fear factor rings true of another of his countrymen and greatest US-produced athletes, Mike Tyson.

Opponents came and went against the 50-6 heavyweight superstar, but they all had one thing against ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ – fear as he often had men beaten before stepping into the ring.

Tyson was quoted as saying in 1988: “I just have this thing inside me that wants to eat and conquer. Maybe it’s egotistical, but I have it in me. 

“I don’t want to be a tycoon. I just want to conquer people and their souls.”

That was certainly the case for Tyson, and could well be for Shelton too if he manages to cause an almighty upset against Djokovic.