Alexander Zverev has publicly stated that, in his view, he is presently the premier tennis player on the planet, a claim that follows his decisive victory at the US Open. The German star secured the championship by defeating American hopeful Ben Shelton in the final on Sunday, a result that left the New York home crowd visibly disappointed. This match marked Zverev's sixth appearance in a Grand Slam final, whereas it was Shelton's inaugural run to a major final.
The experience gap was evident in the four‑set battle, which ended 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), 5‑7, 6‑2. Shelton's valiant effort nonetheless extinguished the United States' lingering hope of producing a male champion for the first time since Andy Roddick lifted the trophy in 2003.
The 29‑year‑old German has been the most consistent presence in the latter stages of the season's majors. Earlier in the year, Carlos Alcaraz, who captured the Australian Open title, was eliminated in the US Open quarter‑finals by Shelton after a lengthy injury lay‑off. World number one Jannik Sinner, fresh off a Wimbledon win, withdrew before the tournament began due to a lingering injury. With both of his chief rivals sidelined, Zverev found an open path to the title.
Zverev's breakthrough moment came at the French Open, where he claimed his first Grand Slam crown. He then reached the final at Wimbledon, ultimately falling to Sinner. His 2026 Grand Slam record stands at an impressive 25‑2, a statistic that bolsters his conviction that he is currently the sport's leading figure. "You have to take everything into consideration," Zverev explained when asked about his status.
"With Jannik injured and Carlos just returning from a four‑month lay‑off, right now, probably yes. If they were both healthy and playing at their peak, maybe not. Four or five months ago, when both were fit, I was losing to Jannik all the time.
So if everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead. It's as simple as that." During the final, Zverev was so absorbed in the point‑by‑point battle that he did not immediately realize he had clinched the championship when Shelton mishit a return.
Only after the umpire announced, "Game, set and match, Zverev," did the German player turn back to the baseline, ready for the next serve, and finally register the roaring ovation from the spectators. He broke into a smile and rushed to the net to congratulate Shelton. Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, Zverev recounted his confusion about the scoreline: "I thought the score was 5‑1!
I knew I had broken him twice, but I thought he only held once. I was thinking, 'Okay, I'm going to have a relaxed service game here and then I'll get tight on the next one.' It was lucky for me!
It's actually funny—tennis coaches always say play each point and forget the score. Well, I forgot the score and it helped me!" The victory positions Zverev on the cusp of overtaking the world No. 1 ranking.
When the next ATP rankings are released, his point total is projected to be 9,690, leaving him just 1,810 points behind Jannik Sinner. Over the remainder of the season, Zverev is expected to lose only about 1,080 points, whereas Sinner could see a drop of roughly 3,550 points, potentially reshaping the top of the leaderboard. Shelton, meanwhile, expressed enthusiasm about his experience on tennis' biggest stage.
"It's such a cool moment. Walking out on that court today, there's nothing like it.
I've never felt anything like that before. Yeah, it's an addictive feeling being in positions like this," the 23‑year‑old said. The USTA has previously highlighted Taylor Fritz's 2024 campaign as evidence of progress within American tennis, following a sweeping overhaul of its player‑development program that began in 2008. The governing body has also pursued greater diversity, partnering with the American Tennis Association to increase Black representation in a sport traditionally dominated by white athletes.
Shelton made history simply by stepping onto Centre Court on Sunday; he became the first Black American man to contest a US Open final in 54 years, the last being Arthur Ashe, after whom the tournament's main stadium is named. Reflecting on his own performance, Shelton modestly noted, "I don't think I'm anywhere near the player that I want to be.
I think I'm a great competitor. I think I compete really well out there on the court. I'm able to stay focused and stay there on the court for many, many hours. I think that's going to help me in the future moving forward." Former US Open semi‑finalist and 2004 champion also praised Zverev's evolution over the past year.
"The perseverance and the way Zverev's game has improved over the last 12 months is remarkable. I was looking back at his Grand Slam results and his game was going backwards, but he has transformed himself to be more aggressive. When you reflect on this matchup, Zverev had beaten Shelton five times in a row. Shelton had to change the narrative, but Zverev looked so comfortable.
Shelton did a great job getting that third set, but losing his serve early in the fourth settled Zverev down and gave him more energy. He coasted from there." Fans can continue to follow the sport through streaming services such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, which also broadcast upcoming events like the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25‑27 September.