Top‑seed Alexander Zverev shattered American hopes on Sunday, overcoming Ben Shelton in a four‑set showdown to capture his first US Open crown. The German displayed superior firepower, defeating the eighth‑seeded American 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), 5‑7, 6‑2 in the championship match at Flushing Meadows.
Having already added a French Open title to his résumé earlier in the season, Zverv now boasts two Grand Slam trophies in a single year. The final featured a bizarre climax: on match point Shelton’s return sailed long, yet Zverv, apparently unaware that the point had ended, sent the ball back across the net as if another rally were about to begin. Only after glancing at the scoreboard did he realise he had already secured the championship.
Zverv’s achievements this year read like a checklist of elite milestones: two Grand Slam victories, an Olympic gold medal, two ATP Finals titles, seven Masters 1000 crowns, 26 singles titles overall, and a stint at world No. 1 – a status he seems poised to reclaim.
When asked by Sky Sports Tennis about his recent surge, he reflected, “There’s been so much hardship for my family at the Grand Slam level; perhaps 2026 is the year we finally get to enjoy the fruits of that labor. Everything is clicking, and I’m unbelievably happy.” He added, “If someone had told me three months ago that I would win two Grand Slams in a few months, I would have signed the contract immediately without a second thought.
Standing here with two trophies in such a short span is surreal.” Regarding the confusion on championship point, Zverv confessed, “I thought the score was 5‑1. I knew I had broken him twice, but I believed he’d only held once. I was planning a relaxed service game and then to get aggressive on the next.
It turned out to be lucky for me! Coaches always say to focus on each point and ignore the score – I ignored it, and it actually helped.” Shelton entered the final with historic ambitions: to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and only the second Black man to claim such a triumph after Arthur Ashe in 1975. He was greeted by a thunderous ovation from a partisan crowd of roughly 23,000 spectators seated in the Arthur Ashe stadium. Among the on‑court audience were Hollywood names such as Brad Pitt, Rami Malek, and James Bond alumnus Pierce Brosnan, who was caught on camera with the match clock ticking down to just 0.07 seconds.
Zverv’s path to the final was grueling, accumulating 19 hours and 38 minutes on court – the fourth‑longest total for any player reaching a Grand Slam final since 1991. He started the championship match aggressively, breaking Shelton’s serve in the opening game and again on set point, establishing early dominance. Shelton was unable to generate a break point in the first two sets as Zverv, playing as the No. 1 seed at a major for the first time, leveraged his powerful serve to keep the American at bay.
Historically, Shelton had lost all five of his previous meetings with Zverv and had yet to defeat either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Carlos Alcaraz – two of the sport’s biggest names – until his remarkable run in New York. This breakthrough gave him confidence heading into the final.
Zverv, now free from the label of “the best player never to win a major” after his Roland Garros success, took command of the second‑set tiebreak, pushing the match within striking distance of the title. Shelton fought back valiantly, creating three break‑point opportunities and eventually converting a second one to take the third set 7‑5, momentarily reviving the contest. However, Zverv’s momentum proved decisive; he broke early in the fourth set and, despite a brief lapse that resulted in a time‑violation for excessive ball‑bouncing – he spent roughly three hours of his total court time bouncing between serves – he sealed the match in 3 hours 33 minutes.
Outside the arena, Shelton’s girlfriend, U.S. women’s soccer star Trinity Rodman, performed a logistical feat, traveling 200 miles from a Washington football pitch to Queens to join him in his box – a trip that ultimately proved futile as Zverv clinched his second Grand Slam.
In his post‑match interview, Zverv paid heartfelt tribute to his mother, Irina, a former professional player who refused to let his type 1 diabetes dictate his future. “When doctors told us that a four‑year‑old with diabetes would have limited sporting prospects, my mother insisted my son could be whatever he wanted.
She’s the strongest person I know; without her resolve, none of this would be possible,” he said. He also praised Shelton, stating, “Ben, you’re an incredible athlete and a wonderful person. This was your first Grand Slam final, but I have no doubt you’ll be back here many more times. If I had to bet my money, I’d say you’ll lift this trophy one day.” The head‑to‑head record now stands at 6‑0 in Zverv’s favour, marking his 26th career title and 60th victory over a top‑10 opponent.
After years of doubt about ever capturing a major, Zverv ends 2026 with two Grand Slam crowns. Shelton, reflecting on the loss, said, “Sascha, congratulations on two Grand Slams in one year.
Your serve and movement are extraordinary; you work harder than anyone I know. Your team does everything right, and I’m genuinely happy for you.
This is just the beginning for me – I’ll be back.” Former British No. 1 Tim Henman, commenting for Sky Sports, noted, “Zverv’s perseverance and the evolution of his game over the past twelve months have been remarkable.
He turned a declining Grand Slam record into an aggressive, confident style, and his dominance over Shelton – five straight wins – shows that.” Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli added, “The experience gap was massive. Shelton won the toss, served, fell behind 30‑30, missed an easy shot and double‑faulted, handing Zverv the first break. It’s tough to debut a Grand Slam final in front of a home crowd, but Zverv made only one unforced error in the opening set, making it nearly impossible for Shelton to recover.
There’s no shame in losing to a player performing at that level."