Alexander Zverev has publicly asserted that, following his triumph at the US Open, he now stands as the pre‑eminent tennis player on the planet. The German star secured the championship by defeating American youngster Ben Shelton in the final on Sunday, a result that left the home crowd in New York visibly disappointed. The match marked Zverev's sixth appearance in a Grand Slam final, while Shelton was making his debut at this stage of a major tournament. The experience differential was evident in the four‑set contest, which ended 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), 5‑7, 6‑2.
The victory not only delivered Zverev his first US Open title but also extinguished the United States' hopes of producing a male champion for the first time since Andy Roddick lifted the trophy in 2003. In the broader context of the 2026 season, Zverev has been the most consistent force in the majors. Earlier in the year, Carlos Alcaraz – the 2024 Australian Open champion – suffered a quarter‑final exit at the hands of Shelton after a lengthy injury lay‑off, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament before it even began due to a lingering injury sustained after his Wimbledon victory.
These setbacks to his two chief rivals have, in Zverev's view, cleared the path for him to claim the mantle of the best player in the world at this moment. Zverev's own résumé this year reads like a comeback story. After finally breaking through to capture his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, he proceeded to the final at Wimbledon, where he fell to Sinner. His Grand Slam record for 2026 stands at an impressive 25 wins and only 2 losses, a statistic that bolsters his confidence in proclaiming his current superiority.
"You have to take everything into consideration," Zverev explained when asked about his claim. "With Jannik injured and Carlos just returning from a four‑month lay‑off, right now, probably yes. If both of them were healthy and at the peak of their games, 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." His focus during the final was so intense that he did not initially realise he had clinched the title. After Shelton mis‑hit a return, the umpire announced, "Game, set and match – Zverev," but the German champion was still positioned at the baseline, preparing for the next serve. It took a few moments for him to register the roaring applause from the crowd, after which he broke into a smile and sprinted to the net to embrace Shelton in a sportsmanlike hug.
Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis after the match, Zverev recounted his mental state: "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 teachers always say to play each point and forget the score.
Well, I forgot the score and it helped me!" Looking ahead, Zverev is now poised to make a serious push 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 could see a drop of roughly 3,550 points, creating a realistic pathway for Zverev to overtake the top spot. Shelton, meanwhile, expressed his enthusiasm for 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 reflected on his own performance, noting, "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." The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has highlighted the progress of American players such as Taylor Fritz, whose 2024 campaign was cited as evidence of the nation's growing depth after a comprehensive overhaul of its player‑development program that began in 2008. In addition, the USTA has been working to broaden the sport's demographic reach through a partnership with the American Tennis Association, aiming to increase Black representation in a sport that has historically been dominated by white athletes.
Shelton's appearance in the final was historic in its own right. He became the first Black American man to reach the US Open final in 54 years, the last being Arthur Ashe – the legendary figure after whom the tournament's main court is named. This milestone underscores the ongoing diversification efforts within American tennis. Former US Open semi‑finalist and 2004 champion, who observed Zverev's evolution, remarked, "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." In summary, Zverev's US Open victory not only adds a coveted major title to his résumé but also fuels his belief that he is, at present, the best player in the world. His consistent performance, combined with the temporary injuries to his chief competitors, creates a compelling case for his claim.
As the ATP rankings are updated and the season progresses, tennis fans worldwide will be watching closely to see whether Zverev can convert this momentum into a sustained reign at the top of the sport.