Alexander Zverev, the tournament's top seed, extinguished the hopes of the United States on Sunday by defeating Ben Shelton in a four‑set final to secure his first US Open championship. The German displayed superior skill and composure, outlasting the eighth‑seeded American 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), 5‑7, 6‑2 on the iconic courts of Flushing Meadows. Having already captured the French Open title earlier in the season, Zverev added a prestigious New York triumph to his résumé.
The match concluded in a peculiar fashion: on championship point Shelton’s return sailed long, yet Zverev, apparently unaware that the point had ended, struck the ball back across the net as if another rally were about to begin. Only after glancing at the scoreboard on the stadium screen did he realize he had already clinched the title. Zverev’s career achievements now include two Grand Slam crowns, an Olympic gold medal, two ATP Finals victories, seven Masters 1000 titles, 26 singles titles overall, and a brief stint as world No. 1.
He hinted that a continued ascent could see him return to the top of the rankings in the near future. In his post‑match interview with Sky Sports Tennis, Zverev reflected on the emotional weight his family has carried at Grand Slam events: "There has been a lot of suffering for the Zverev family at this level, so maybe 2026 is the year we should simply enjoy it.
Everything is falling into place and I’m unbelievably happy." He added, "Three months ago, if someone told me I would win just one Grand Slam in my career, I would have signed that paper without hesitation. To now hold two major trophies within a few months is simply extraordinary." When asked about the confusion on championship point, Zverev laughed, "I thought the score was 5‑1. I knew I had broken him twice, but I assumed he’d held once. I was planning a relaxed service game and then to tighten up on the next one.
It was lucky for me!" He also noted a common coaching mantra: "Teachers always say play each point and forget the score. Well, I forgot the score and it actually helped me." Shelton entered the final with a historic mission: to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open triumph, and only the second Black man to claim a major after Arthur Ashe in 1975. He was greeted by a thunderous ovation from a crowd of roughly 23,000 spectators seated in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, a venue that carries its own symbolic weight.
Among the high‑profile attendees were Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Rami Malek, as well as James Bond legend Pierce Brosnan, who was caught on camera with the match clock displaying a mere 0.07 seconds left in the decisive game. Zverev’s path to the final was grueling: he logged 19 hours and 38 minutes on court throughout the tournament, the fourth‑longest cumulative time for a finalist since 1991.
He began the championship match emphatically, breaking Shelton’s serve in the opening game and again on set point, establishing early dominance. Shelton was unable to generate a single break‑point in the first two sets, as Zverev, seeded No. 1 for the first time at a major, leveraged his powerful serve to keep the American at bay.
The head‑to‑head record between the two was already heavily tilted in Zverev’s favor, having won all five previous encounters. Shelton, meanwhile, arrived in New York having never defeated either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Carlos Alcaraz—two of the sport’s brightest stars—until his remarkable run at this tournament, which gave him confidence heading into the final. After clinching the first set, Zverev maintained his composure and dominated the second‑set tiebreak, moving within striking distance of the championship. Shelton, refusing to surrender, fought back in the third set, creating three break opportunities and eventually converting the second to level the match at 2‑1 in sets.
However, Zverev’s momentum proved decisive; he broke early in the fourth set and never looked back. Statistical analysis revealed that Zverev spent roughly three hours of his 23‑plus hours on court bouncing the ball between serves, a habit that eventually resulted in a time‑violation warning from the umpire.
Despite this, his aggressive baseline play and precise serving allowed him to close out the match in three hours and 33 minutes. Off the court, Shelton’s girlfriend, U.S. women’s soccer star Trinity Rodman, performed a logistical feat by traveling over 200 miles from a Washington, D.C., football field to Queens to watch the match, only to see Zverev lift the trophy. Following his victory, Zverev paid heartfelt tribute to his mother, Irina, a former professional player who battled type‑1 diabetes alongside her son.
He said, "When your four‑year‑old is diagnosed with diabetes and doctors tell you his life and sports will be limited, it takes an incredibly strong mother to say ‘my son will be whatever he wants to be.’ My mother never let the illness define us, and her strength is the foundation of my career." He also expressed admiration for Shelton, stating, "Ben, you’re an incredible player and an incredible person. This was your first Grand Slam final, but I’ve already told you you’ll be back here many more times. If I had to bet all my money, I’d bet you’ll lift this trophy one day." The match left Zverev unbeaten against Shelton, extending his head‑to‑head record to 6‑0, marking his 26th career title and his 60th victory over a top‑10 opponent. After years of speculation about his ability to win a major, Zverev now caps 2026 with two Grand Slam crowns.
Shelton, still young and hungry, responded graciously: "Sascha, congratulations on these two weeks, your second Grand Slam title and two in one year. Your serving and movement are incredible. You work harder than anyone I know and put in more hours on court. You and your team do things the right way, and I’m sincerely happy for you.
I’m just getting started and I’ll be back here again." Former British No. 1 Tim Henman, commenting for Sky Sports Tennis, highlighted Zverev’s transformation: "His perseverance and the way his game has improved over the last 12 months is remarkable. A year ago his Grand Slam results were slipping, but he’s become more aggressive and confident. He’s beaten Shelton five times in a row, and today he looked completely comfortable." Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli added, "The experience gap was massive.
In the first game, Shelton won the toss, served, fell to 30‑30, missed an easy shot and then double‑faulted, handing Zverev the first break. It’s not easy to debut a Grand Slam final in front of a home crowd and try to please everyone.
Zverev made only one unforced error in the first set, making it extremely difficult for Shelton. There’s no shame in losing to a player performing at that level." The victory not only crowns Zverev’s season but also reshapes the narrative around his career, confirming that the label of "best player never to win a major" belongs to the past. With his newfound confidence, Zverev looks poised to challenge for further titles, while Shelton’s breakthrough run promises a bright future for American men’s tennis.