Alexander Zverev is convinced that, following his triumph at the US Open, he now stands as the premier tennis player on the planet. The German star secured the championship by defeating American Ben Shelton in the final on Sunday, a result that left the home crowd in New York visibly disappointed. It was Zverev's sixth appearance in a Grand Slam final, while Shelton was contesting his first.

The match unfolded as a 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 victory for Zverev, extinguishing the United States' hopes of producing a male champion for the first time since Andy Roddick lifted the trophy in 2003. The 29‑year‑old has been the most consistent presence in the major tournaments this season. Earlier in the year, Carlos Alcaraz—who captured the Australian Open—was eliminated in the US Open quarter‑finals by Shelton after a lengthy injury lay‑off.

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew before the tournament began due to a lingering injury, despite having won Wimbledon just weeks earlier. Zverev’s breakthrough came at the French Open, where he claimed his maiden Grand Slam title, and he later reached the final at Wimbledon, ultimately falling to Sinner.

His 2026 Grand Slam record stands at an impressive 25‑2, and he believes those numbers reinforce his claim of being the best player right now. "You have to take everything into consideration," Zverev explained.

"With Jannik injured and Carlos just returning from a four‑month lay‑off, I would say yes, I’m the top player at the moment. If both of them were fully fit and playing at their peak, perhaps the answer would be different. Four or five months ago, when they were healthy, I was losing to Jannik all the time.

So, with everyone at 100%, Jannik still has the edge. It's that simple." During the final, Zverev was so absorbed in the point‑by‑point battle that he didn’t realize he had already clinched the title when Shelton’s return went long. Only after the umpire announced, "Game, set and match – Zverev," did the German pause, glance at the cheering spectators, and finally break into a smile before rushing to the net to embrace his opponent. Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, Zverev recounted his thoughts during the closing stages: "I thought the score was 5‑1!

I knew I had broken him twice, but I believed he had held serve only once. I was thinking, ‘Okay, I can take it easy on this service game and then tighten up on the next.’ It turned out to be lucky for me!" He added, "Coaches always tell you to focus on each point and ignore the score. Well, I actually ignored the score, and it helped me stay in the moment." With the next edition of the ATP rankings looming, Zverev is poised to make a serious push for the world No.

1 spot. The upcoming release will award him 9,690 points, leaving him just 1,810 points behind Sinner.

Over the remainder of the season, Zverev is projected to lose only about 1,080 points, whereas Sinner could see a drop of roughly 3,550 points, potentially reshuffling the top of the leaderboard. Shelton, meanwhile, expressed his enthusiasm for having reached tennis' biggest stage: "It’s an incredible feeling.

Walking onto that court, there’s nothing else like it. I’ve never experienced anything quite like this before. It’s addictive to be in a position like this," the 23‑year‑old said.

The USTA has highlighted Taylor Fritz’s 2024 campaign as evidence of progress in American men’s tennis, especially after a sweeping overhaul of its player‑development program that began in 2008. The governing body has also sought to broaden the sport’s demographic reach through a partnership with the American Tennis Association, aiming to increase Black representation in a sport that has traditionally been dominated by white athletes.

Shelton’s presence in the final was historic in its own right. He became the first Black American man to contest the US Open men’s final in 54 years, the last being the legendary Arthur Ashe, after whom the tournament’s main court is named. Reflecting on his own performance, Shelton said, "I don’t think I’m anywhere near the player I want to become yet. I’m a strong competitor and I think I play well on the court.

I can stay focused for long stretches, and that will help me in the future." Former US Open semi‑finalist and 2004 champion, who observed Zverev’s evolution, remarked, "The perseverance and the way Zverev’s game has improved over the last 12 months is impressive. Looking back at his Grand Slam results, his game seemed to be regressing, but he has transformed into a more aggressive player. In this matchup, Zverev had beaten Shelton five times in a row, and he looked completely comfortable. Shelton fought hard for the third set, but losing his serve early in the fourth gave Zverev the momentum he needed to close out the match." The victory not only adds another major title to Zverev’s résumé but also positions him as a serious contender for the top ranking, especially as the tennis calendar moves toward the season‑ending championships.

Fans can continue to follow Zverev’s quest for the world No. 1 spot through live streams on platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, and the upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25‑27 September will also be broadcast on Sky Sports for those eager to see more high‑level tennis action.