Alexander Zverev is confident that, after his triumph at the US Open, he now stands as the premier male tennis player on the planet. The German star secured the championship by defeating American teenager Ben Shelton in a four‑set showdown on Sunday, a result that left the home crowd in New York visibly disappointed.

The final marked Zverev's sixth appearance in a Grand Slam final, while it was Shelton's debut at that stage. The match unfolded with a 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), 5‑7, 6‑2 scoreline, effectively quashing the United States' hopes of producing a male champion for the first time since Andy Roddick lifted the trophy in 2003.

Throughout the 2026 season, Zverev has emerged as the most consistent presence in the latter rounds of the majors. His rivals have been hampered by injuries: world No.

1 Jannik Sinner withdrew before the tournament after a recent Wimbledon victory, and Carlos Alcaraz, the 2024 Australian Open champion, suffered a quarter‑final exit at the hands of Shelton after a lengthy lay‑off to recover from a shoulder problem. Zverev, meanwhile, finally broke his own Grand Slam barrier by capturing his inaugural major title at Roland Garros and then reaching the Wimbledon final, where he fell to Sinner. His record in 2026 Grand Slam matches stands at an impressive 25‑2, and he uses those numbers to back his claim of being the best player in the world right now. "You have to look at the whole picture," Zverev told reporters.

"With Jannik injured and Carlos just returning from a four‑month lay‑off, I think the answer is yes. If both of them were fully fit and at the peak of their games, maybe the answer would be different." He added, "Four or five months ago, when they were healthy, I was losing to Jannik all the time.

If everyone is healthy, Jannik is still ahead of me. It's that simple." During the final, Zverev was so absorbed in his own rhythm that he did not immediately realize he had clinched the title when Shelton mishit a return deep into the court. Only after the umpire announced "Game, set and match – Zverev" did the German player turn back to the baseline, ready for the next serve, and finally register the roaring applause of the crowd.

He broke into a grin and sprinted to the net to congratulate Shelton. Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, Zverev admitted, "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'll have a relaxed service game now and then tighten up on the next one.' It was lucky for me!" He also reflected on a common coaching mantra: "Teachers in tennis say to play each point and forget the score.

I actually forgot 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 will hold 9,690 points, trailing Sinner by just 1,810 points. Over the remainder of the season, Zverev is projected to lose only about 1,080 points, whereas Sinner is expected to drop roughly 3,550 points, potentially narrowing the gap dramatically.

Shelton, for his part, expressed enthusiasm about experiencing the sport's biggest stage. "It's an incredible feeling.

Walking onto that court, there's nothing like it. I've never felt anything like that before. It's addictive to be in a position like this," the 23‑year‑old said. The USTA has highlighted Taylor Fritz's 2024 campaign as evidence of progress in American tennis, especially after a comprehensive overhaul of its player‑development program that began in 2008.

The governing body has also sought 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 traditionally been dominated by white athletes. Shelton made history simply by stepping onto Centre Court on Sunday: 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 arena is named. Reflecting on his own performance, Shelton said, "I don't think I'm anywhere near the player I want to be yet. I consider myself a great competitor and I think I play well on the court.

I can stay focused for long periods, and that will help me in the future." Former US Open semifinalist and 2004 finalist, who watched the match, praised Zverev's evolution: "The perseverance and the way Zverev's game has improved over the last 12 months is remarkable. Looking back at his Grand Slam results, his game seemed to be regressing, but he has transformed into a more aggressive player. In this matchup, Zverev had beaten Shelton five times in a row. Shelton tried to change the narrative, but Zverev looked completely comfortable.

Shelton fought hard in the third set, but losing his serve early in the fourth gave Zverev momentum, and he rode that energy to the finish." Fans can continue to follow tennis action without a contract via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app, and they can also catch the upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25‑27 September, streamed live on Sky Sports.