Alexander Zverev is convinced that, following his recent US Open victory, he now stands as the pre‑eminent tennis player on the planet. The German star clinched the championship by defeating American teenager Ben Shelton in a four‑set final on Sunday, a result that left the New York crowd visibly disappointed. This showdown marked Zverev's sixth appearance in a Grand Slam final, while it was Shelton's debut at that stage, a disparity that was evident in the 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), 5‑7, 6‑2 scoreline.
The win also extinguished 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 dominated the major‑tournament circuit this year, a season in which the usual rivals have been hampered by injuries.
Carlos Alcaraz, the 2023 Australian Open champion, bowed out in the US Open quarter‑finals after a long lay‑off, while world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew before the tournament began following his Wimbledon triumph. Zverev, who finally broke through to claim his maiden Grand Slam at Roland Garros and then reached the Wimbledon final only to lose to Sinner, now boasts a 25‑2 record in Grand Slam matches for 2026. When asked about his standing in the sport, Zverev said, "You have to take everything into consideration.
With Jannik injured and Carlos just returning from a four‑month lay‑off, I would say yes, I am the best right now. If both of them were healthy and at the peak of their game, maybe not. Four or five months ago, when they were both fit, I was losing to Jannik all the time.
So if everyone is healthy, I think Jannik still has the edge. It's as simple as that." Zverev was so absorbed in the match that he did not realize he had secured the title until Shelton missed a return and the umpire announced, "Game, set and match, Zverev." The German champion walked back to the baseline, prepared to receive Shelton's next serve, before the crowd's standing ovation finally registered.
He broke into a smile and rushed to the net to embrace his opponent. Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, Zverev recalled his confusion about the score: "I thought it 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 to play each point and forget the score. Well, I forgot the score and it helped me!" The victory puts Zverev in a strong position to challenge for the world No.
1 ranking. When the next edition of the ATP rankings is released, he is projected to hold 9,690 points, trailing Jannik Sinner by just 1,810 points.
Over the remainder of the season, Zverev is expected to lose only about 1,080 points, whereas Sinner may drop roughly 3,550 points, potentially narrowing the gap dramatically. Shelton, meanwhile, expressed his enthusiasm for the spotlight of 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," said the 23‑year‑old. The USTA has highlighted the progress of American players like Taylor Fritz as evidence of the effectiveness of its revamped player‑development program, which was overhauled in 2008. The governing body is also working to increase diversity, partnering with the American Tennis Association to promote Black representation in a sport that has historically been dominated by white athletes. Shelton made history simply by stepping onto the court, becoming the first Black American man to contest the US Open final in 54 years—a milestone not seen since Arthur Ashe, after whom the tournament's main court is named.
Reflecting on his performance, Shelton said, "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 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: "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 seemed to be 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." The match was broadcast across multiple platforms, including NOW and the Sky Sports app, with live coverage of upcoming events such as the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25‑27 September. Fans are encouraged to use Chrome for the most accessible video player experience.