Alexander Zverev has declared that, following his triumph at the US Open, he believes he is the best tennis player on the planet at this moment. The German star secured the championship by defeating American rising talent Ben Shelton in the final on Sunday, a result that left the home crowd in New York deeply disappointed. The match marked Zverev's sixth appearance in a Grand Slam final, while it was Shelton's debut at that stage.
The experience gap was evident in the 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 victory, which also ended America's hopes of producing a male champion for the first time since Andy Roddick's 2003 win. Zverev, now 29, has been the most consistent presence in the majors this season, a year in which other top contenders have struggled with injuries. Carlos Alcaraz, the Australian Open champion, bowed out in the quarter‑finals after a long lay‑off, and world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew before the tournament began despite having just captured the Wimbledon title. Zverev's path to this moment has been a story of steady progress.
He finally broke through to claim his first major at the French Open, then reached the Wimbledon final at the All England Club, where he fell to Sinner. In 2026, his Grand Slam record stands at an impressive 25 wins and only two losses. Reflecting on his form, Zverev said, "You have to take everything into consideration. With Jannik injured and Carlos returning from a four‑month lay‑off, right now, probably yes.
If both of them were healthy and at the top of their game, maybe not. Four or five months ago, when they were both healthy, 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 realise he had clinched the title when Shelton mishit a return.
The umpire's announcement of "Game, set and match Zverev" was met with a stunned silence from the German, who only after a few seconds understood the roaring applause surrounding him. He then broke into a smile and rushed to the net to congratulate Shelton.
Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, Zverev admitted, "I thought the score was 5‑1! I knew that 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, teachers in tennis say play each point and forget about the score. Well I forgot about 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 ATP rankings are released, 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 could see a drop of roughly 3,550 points, potentially narrowing the gap dramatically. Shelton, meanwhile, expressed his excitement at having experienced the sport'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 said. He also noted the historic significance of his appearance: he became the first Black American man to contest the US Open final in 54 years, the last being Arthur Ashe, after whom the tournament's main court is named.
The USTA has highlighted the progress of American players such as Taylor Fritz, whose 2024 campaign was cited as evidence of the effectiveness of the federation's 2008 overhaul of its player development program. In addition, the governing body has pursued greater diversity through a partnership with the American Tennis Association, aiming to increase Black representation in a sport that has traditionally been dominated by white athletes. Former US Open semi‑finalist and 2004 finalist offered his perspective on 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 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 win could have broader implications for the ATP tour.
His aggressive baseline play, combined with a more potent serve and improved movement, suggests a player who has adapted his game to the modern demands of power and speed. Analysts predict that if he maintains his health and continues to refine his tactics, he could dominate the remainder of the season and possibly secure the year‑end No. 1 spot. For fans eager to relive the action, the match is available for streaming on NOW and the Sky Sports app, and the Laver Cup will be broadcast live from The O2 in London from 25‑27 September on Sky Sports.