Top‑seed Alexander Zverev shattered the hopes of American tennis fans 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 final at Flushing Meadows.
Having already secured the French Open title earlier in the season, Zverev added the New York trophy to his growing résumé. The match concluded in an unusual fashion: Shelton’s return on championship point sailed long, and Zverev, 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 arena’s big screen did he realise that he had already clinched the championship. Zverev’s achievements now include two Grand Slam titles, an Olympic gold medal, two ATP Finals victories, seven Masters 1000 crowns and 26 singles titles overall.
He is once again perched near the top of the world rankings, with many speculating that a return to the No. 1 spot may be imminent.
When asked by Sky Sports Tennis about his journey, Zverev reflected on the hardships his family had endured at the Grand Slam level. “There has been so much suffering for the Zverev family at the majors that perhaps 2026 is the year we should just enjoy it,” he said.
“Everything is falling into place and I’m unbelievably happy.” He added, “Three months ago, if someone had told me I would win just one Grand Slam in my career, I would have signed the paper without hesitation. To stand here now with two major trophies in a matter of months is surreal.” On the confusion surrounding the championship point, Zverev admitted, “I thought the score was 5‑1.
I knew I had broken him twice, but I believed he held serve only once. I was planning a relaxed service game followed by a tighter one on the next point. It turned out to be lucky for me!
It’s funny—coaches always tell you to play each point and ignore the score. I ignored the score and it actually helped.” Shelton entered the final with the dream of becoming the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick’s 2003 triumph, and he also aimed to become only the second Black man to claim a major after Arthur Ashe’s historic win in 1975.
He was welcomed by a thunderous ovation from a partisan crowd of roughly 23,000 spectators inside the stadium named after Ashe. Among the celebrity spectators were actors Brad Pitt and Rami Malek, as well as James Bond veteran Pierce Brosnan, who was caught on a mischievous camera shot with the match clock flashing just 0.07 seconds.
Zverev’s path to the final was grueling: he logged 19 hours and 38 minutes on court throughout the tournament, the fourth‑longest total for a player reaching a Grand Slam final since 1991. He began the championship match aggressively, breaking Shelton’s serve in the opening game and again on set point to seize early momentum.
Shelton, who had never broken Zverev’s serve in their previous five meetings, struggled to generate break points in the first two sets. Zverev, playing as the No. 1 seed in a major for the first time, leaned heavily on his powerful serve to keep Shelton at bay. The American’s confidence stemmed from a breakthrough week in New York, where he finally recorded his first victories over both Stefanos Tsitsipas and, most notably, Carlos Alcaraz—wins that had fueled his optimism heading into the final.
After taking the first set, Zverev dominated the second‑set tiebreak, pushing the match to a decisive third set. Shelton rallied valiantly, creating three break‑point opportunities and eventually converting the second to claim the third set 7‑5, momentarily reviving the contest. However, Zverev’s experience and fitness edge proved decisive.
He broke early in the fourth set and, despite a brief resurgence from Shelton, closed out the match in 3 hours 33 minutes. Throughout the fortnight, Zverev’s habit of bouncing the ball between serves—recorded at roughly three hours of his total court time—ultimately led to a time‑violation warning.
Off‑court drama added a human touch: Shelton’s girlfriend, U.S. women’s soccer star Trinity Rodman, made a 200‑mile dash from a Washington football field to Queens, arriving just in time to take a seat in her partner’s box. Unfortunately for her, Zverev’s composure on the final point meant the celebration was his alone. Following his triumph, Zverev paid heartfelt tribute to his mother, Irina, a former professional player who refused to let his type‑1 diabetes define his career.
“When my son was diagnosed at four, doctors said his life and sport would be limited,” Zverev recounted. “It takes an incredibly strong mother to say, ‘My son will be whatever he wants to be.’ She never let the illness dictate our path, and I owe everything to her strength.” He also praised Shelton, stating, “Ben, you’re an amazing player and an amazing person.
This was your first Grand Slam final, but I’ve already told you you’ll be back many more times. If I had to bet all my money, I’d bet you’ll lift this trophy one day.” The head‑to‑head record now stands at 6‑0 in Zverev’s favour, marking his 26th career title and 60th victory over a top‑10 opponent.
After years of doubt about his ability to win a major, Zverev closed 2026 with two Grand Slam crowns. Shelton, still young and eager, responded graciously: “Sascha, congratulations on these two weeks, your second Grand Slam and two in one year. Your serving and movement are incredible. You work harder than anyone I know and spend the most hours on court.
You and your team do everything the right way, and I’m genuinely happy for you. This is just the beginning for me—I’ll be back.” Former British No.
1 Tim Henman highlighted Zverev’s evolution: “His perseverance and the way his game has improved over the last 12 months are remarkable. A year ago his Grand Slam results were slipping, but he’s become more aggressive and, as the head‑to‑head shows, he’s beaten Shelton five times in a row.” Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli added, “The experience gap was massive.
In the first game, Shelton won the toss, served, fell to 30‑30, missed an easy shot and then double‑faulted, handing Zverev the first break. It’s hard to play your first Grand Slam final in front of a home crowd and try to please everyone.
Zverev made only one unforced error in the opening set, making it extremely difficult for Shelton. There’s no shame in losing to a player performing at that level.” Fans can continue to follow tennis without a contract via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app, which will also broadcast the upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25‑27 September.