Alexander Zverev is convinced that, following his triumph at the US Open, he now stands as the premier tennis player on the planet. The German star clinched the championship by defeating American rising talent Ben Shelton in a four‑set 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 it was Shelton's debut at that stage. The scoreline – 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), 5‑7, 6‑2 – underscored Zverev's dominance and simultaneously extinguished the United States' hopes of producing a male champion for the first time since Andy Roddick's 2003 victory.
In a season that has been anything but ordinary, Zverev has emerged as the most consistent force in the majors. Early in the year, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his Australian Open win, suffered a quarter‑final exit at the US Open after a lengthy injury lay‑off, falling to Shelton. Meanwhile, fellow top‑ranked player Jannik Sinner withdrew before the tournament began due to a lingering injury after his Wimbledon triumph.
With both of those rivals sidelined, Zverev seized the opportunity to assert his dominance. Zverev's journey to this moment has been a story of steady progression. He captured his first Grand Slam title at the French Open, then reached the Wimbledon final at the All England Club, where he was bested by Sinner.
In 2026, his Grand Slam record stands at an impressive 25 wins to just 2 losses, a statistic that bolsters his belief that he is currently the best in the world. "You have to take everything into consideration," Zverev explained when asked about his status.
"With Jannik injured and Carlos coming back from a four‑month lay‑off, right now, probably yes. If both of them were healthy and playing at the top of their game, maybe not. Four or five months ago, when they were both fit, I was losing to Jannik all the time.
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 didn't even realize he had secured the title when Shelton mishit a service return deep into the court. The umpire's announcement of "Game, set and match – Zverev" seemed to catch the German off guard. He walked back to the baseline, prepared to receive the next serve, and only after a few seconds did he understand why the crowd was rising to their feet.
A delayed smile spread across his face and he rushed to the net to embrace Shelton in a sports‑manlike hug. Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, Zverev recounted his moment‑to‑moment thoughts: "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 tell you to play each point and forget about the score.
Well, I forgot about the score and it helped me!" Looking ahead, Zverev finds himself in a prime position to chase the world No. 1 ranking.
When the next ATP rankings are released, his point total is projected to be 9,690, leaving him just 1,810 points behind Jannik Sinner. 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 opening the door for Zverev to claim the top spot. Shelton, meanwhile, expressed his enthusiasm for having reached 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," the 23‑year‑old said, reflecting on the emotional high of competing in a US Open final. The USTA has highlighted the progress of American tennis, pointing to Taylor Fritz's 2024 campaign as evidence of a rising generation. The organization also announced a partnership with the American Tennis Association to broaden participation and increase Black representation in a sport that has traditionally been dominated by white athletes.
Shelton made history by becoming the first Black American man to appear in a New York final in 54 years, the last being Arthur Ashe, after whom the tournament's main court is named. Shelton remains modest about his performance, stating, "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." Former US Open semi‑finalist and 2004 champion 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 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 new chapter to his career narrative. After years of being labeled a talented but sometimes inconsistent player, his recent string of deep runs in majors demonstrates a newfound mental toughness and tactical maturity. His powerful baseline game, combined with an improved serve and a willingness to finish points at the net, has made him a more complete competitor. Analysts now regularly compare his trajectory to that of other modern greats, noting that his ability to adapt after setbacks—such as his earlier Grand Slam final losses—has been a key factor in his ascent.
For fans wanting to follow the ongoing drama, live streams of tennis matches are available without a contract on platforms like NOW and the Sky Sports app. Additionally, the Laver Cup will be held at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, with live coverage on Sky Sports, offering another opportunity to watch the sport's elite battle for glory.