Alexander Zverev, the tournament's top seed, ended the American hopes on Sunday by defeating Ben Shelton in a four‑set final to capture his first US Open crown. The German displayed superior firepower, overcoming the eighth‑seeded American 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), 5‑7, 6‑2 on the iconic hard courts of Flushing Meadows. This triumph adds a New York major to Zverev's résumé, which already includes a French Open title earlier in the season. The conclusion of the match was oddly dramatic: Shelton's return on match point sailed long, and Zverev, apparently unaware that the point had sealed the championship, simply sent the ball back across the net as if another game were about to begin.
Only after glancing at the stadium scoreboard did he realize he had just won his second Grand Slam. Zverev's achievements now read: two Grand Slam titles, an Olympic gold medal, two ATP Finals victories, seven Masters 1000 crowns, 26 tour‑level singles titles and a brief stint as world No. 1. He hinted that 2026 could be the year he finally enjoys the fruits of his labor, telling Sky Sports Tennis, "Everything is going perfectly.
I am unbelievably happy." Reflecting on his earlier career, Zverev said, "Three months ago, if someone had told me I would win only one Grand Slam, I would have signed the paper without hesitation. To stand here with two majors in a few months is surreal." He also confessed his confusion at championship point, recalling, "I thought the score was 5‑1.
I knew I had broken him twice but believed he had held once. I was planning a relaxed service game and then to tighten up on the next. It turned out to be lucky for me!" Shelton entered the final with the dream of becoming the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and only the second Black man ever to do so after Arthur Ashe in 1975. He was welcomed by a roaring crowd of roughly 23,000 spectators in the stadium named after Ashe.
Among the on‑court audience were Hollywood figures such as Brad Pitt, Rami Malek and James Bond veteran Pierce Brosnan, who was caught on camera with the match clock showing a mere 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 cumulative time for a finalist since 1991.
He began the championship match aggressively, breaking Shelton in the opening game and again on set point, establishing early dominance. The American struggled to generate any break opportunities in the first two sets, while Zverev, playing as the No. 1 seed at a major for the first time, used his potent serve to keep Shelton at bay.
Historically, Shelton had lost all five of his previous meetings with Zverev and had never beaten either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Carlos Alcaraz before this tournament. His breakthrough victories over those two stars in New York gave him a surge of confidence heading into the final.
After a decisive first set, Zverev continued to press, taking the second‑set tiebreak with authority and moving within a set of the title. Shelton fought back in the third, creating three break points and eventually converting one to claim the set 7‑5, briefly reviving the contest.
However, Zverev's momentum proved too strong; he broke early in the fourth set and, despite a brief dip in his serve, closed the match in 3 hours and 33 minutes. Zverev's trademark ball‑bouncing, which occupied roughly three hours of his total court time during the fortnight, eventually resulted in a time‑violation warning, but it did not hinder his performance.
Meanwhile, Shelton's partner, USWNT star Trinity Rodman, performed a logistical feat by traveling 200 miles from a football field in Washington to Queens to watch the match from the players' box, only to see her boyfriend fall short. In his post‑match interview, Zverev paid heartfelt tribute to his mother Irina, a former professional player who refused to let his type‑1 diabetes define his career.
He said, "When doctors told us my four‑year‑old son had diabetes and that his life and sport would be limited, my mother insisted he could be anything he wanted. She is the strongest person I know." He also praised Shelton, stating, "Ben, you're an incredible player and an incredible 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, I'd put my money on you lifting 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 speculation about whether he could ever capture a major, Zverev closed 2026 with two Grand Slam crowns. Shelton, still youthful and hungry, responded graciously: "Sascha, congratulations on two weeks, two Grand Slams. Your serving and movement are incredible.
You work harder than anyone I know and put in more hours on court. You and your team are doing everything right, and I'm truly happy for you. I'm just getting started and will be back here again." Former British No.
1 Tim Henman, commenting for Sky Sports, highlighted Zverev's transformation over the past year: "His game was regressing, but he became more aggressive and now looks comfortable against any opponent. He beat Shelton five times in a row, and that confidence showed." Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli added, "The experience gap was massive. Shelton won the toss, served, fell to 30‑30, missed an easy shot and double‑faulted, giving Zverev the first break.
Playing your first Grand Slam final in front of a home crowd is pressure‑filled, and Zverev made only one unforced error in the first set, making it extremely hard for Shelton. There's no shame in losing to a player performing at that level." The match will be remembered not only for Zverev's historic win but also for the narrative of perseverance, the breaking of long‑standing national droughts, and the emergence of a new generation of talent ready to challenge the sport's elite.