Alexander Zverev has publicly asserted 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 youngster Ben Shelton in a four‑set final on Sunday, a result that left the New York home crowd visibly disappointed. The match marked Zverev's sixth appearance in a Grand Slam final, while Shelton was contesting his first.
The scoreboard reflected Zverev's dominance: 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), 5‑7, 6‑2. The victory not only ended America's hopes of crowning a male champion for the first time since Andy Roddick's 2003 win, but also reinforced Zverev's belief that he is presently the best in the game. The 29‑year‑old's season has been defined by his consistency at the majors.
While world No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament due to a lingering injury after his Wimbledon triumph, and Carlos Alcaraz—who captured the Australian Open earlier in the year—suffered a quarter‑final loss to Shelton after a four‑month injury lay‑off, Zverev remained the only player to navigate the draw without a significant setback.
Earlier in the year, Zverev broke through at Roland Garros, capturing his first Grand Slam title, and later reached the Wimbledon final, where he fell to Sinner. His 2026 Grand Slam record stands at an impressive 25‑2, a statistic that bolsters his claim to the top spot. "You have to take everything into consideration," Zverev explained when asked about his status.
"With Jannik injured and Carlos just returning from a long lay‑off, right now, probably yes. 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 is still ahead. It's as simple as that." Zverev admitted that his concentration on the match was so intense that he did not immediately realise he had clinched the title. When Shelton's return sailed long and the umpire announced "Game, set and match, Zverev," the German player calmly returned to the baseline, poised to receive the next serve. Only after a brief pause did he notice the standing ovation from the crowd, prompting a delayed smile and a rush to the net to congratulate his opponent.
Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, Zverev recounted his thought process during the decisive moments: "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!" With the upcoming release of the new ATP rankings, Zverev is positioned to challenge for the world No. 1 spot.
He is projected to hold 9,690 points, trailing 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, creating a realistic pathway for Zverev to ascend to the summit of the rankings.
Shelton, for his part, expressed enthusiasm about the experience of playing on tennis's 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 remarked, highlighting the personal significance of the occasion.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has recently emphasized the progress of American players, citing Taylor Fritz's 2024 campaign as evidence of the effectiveness of its revamped player‑development program, which was overhauled in 2008. In addition, the USTA has pursued greater diversity through a partnership with the American Tennis Association, aiming to increase Black representation in a sport historically dominated by white athletes. Shelton's presence in the final was itself historic. He became the first Black American man to appear in the New York final in 54 years, the last being Arthur Ashe—the namesake of the tournament's iconic showpiece court.
"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," Shelton said. "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 contender 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," he noted. "I was looking back at his Grand Slam results, and his game was going backwards. But he has transformed himself to be more aggressive, and 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 in the first game of the fourth settled Zverev down and gave him more energy. He coasted to the line from there." Beyond the immediate aftermath, Zverev's victory adds a compelling chapter to his career narrative.
After years of being labeled a perennial runner‑up, his back‑to‑back Grand Slam successes at Roland Garros and now the US Open signal a shift from a talented contender to a consistent champion. Analysts point to his improved serve, more aggressive baseline play, and heightened mental resilience as key factors in this transformation. The win also reshapes the competitive landscape for the remainder of the season.
With Sinner sidelined by injury and Alcaraz still regaining form, Zverev now enjoys a window of opportunity to consolidate his ranking points, collect additional titles, and potentially close the gap to the top of the ATP leaderboard. His performance will be closely watched at upcoming events such as the ATP Finals, where the elite field will test whether his claim of being the world's best can withstand the pressure of a full season against a fully fit opposition. Fans can continue to follow Zverev's journey through live streams on platforms like NOW and the Sky Sports app, and the upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London (September 25‑27) will provide another stage for the German star to showcase his game against the world's finest.