Top‑seed Alexander Zverev put an end to American aspirations on Sunday by defeating Ben Shelton in a four‑set final to capture his first US Open crown. The German, seeded eighth in the tournament, out‑performed the American in a 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), 5‑7, 6‑2 showdown at Flushing Meadows. This triumph adds a New York title to Zverev's résumé, which already includes a French Open triumph earlier in the season.
The match concluded in an unusual fashion: Shelton's return on championship point sailed long, and Zverev, apparently unaware that the point had ended, hit the ball back as if another rally were about to begin. Only after glancing at the stadium screen did he realize he had already secured the championship. Zverev's achievements now read: two Grand Slam titles, one Olympic gold medal, two ATP Finals victories, seven Masters 1000 crowns, 26 singles titles and, perhaps soon, a stint as world No. 1.
When asked by Sky Sports Tennis about his recent success, the German reflected, "There has been so much hardship for my family at the Grand Slam level that maybe 2026 is the year we finally get to enjoy it. Everything is falling into place and I am unbelievably happy." He added, "Three months ago, if someone told me I would win only one Grand Slam in my career, I would have signed that contract immediately. To stand here with two majors in a few months is surreal." Zverev also recounted his confusion on the final point, saying, "I thought the score was 5‑1. I knew I had broken him twice, but I believed he held only once.
I was planning a relaxed service game and then to get aggressive on the next. It was lucky for me!" He laughed, noting that tennis coaches often advise players to focus on each point and ignore the score, a strategy that inadvertently helped him in that moment. 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 after Arthur Ashe in 1975. He received a thunderous welcome from a crowd of roughly 23,000 spectators in a stadium named after Ashe.
Among the on‑court audience were Hollywood figures such as Brad Pitt, Rami Malek and James Bond legend Pierce Brosnan, who was caught on camera with the match clock displaying a mere 0.07 seconds. The road to the final was grueling for both competitors.
Zverev logged 19 hours and 38 minutes on court throughout the tournament, the fourth‑longest cumulative time for any player reaching a Grand Slam final since 1991. He started the final strongly, breaking Shelton’s serve in the opening game and again on set point, establishing early dominance. The American struggled to generate any break points in the first two sets, while Zverev, playing as the top seed at a major for the first time, used his powerful serve to keep Shelton at bay. Prior to this encounter, Shelton had lost all five of his previous meetings with Zverev.
He also arrived in New York without a victory over either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Carlos Alcaraz, two of the sport’s leading figures. Nonetheless, his run to the final—highlighted by a breakthrough win over Alcaraz—gave him confidence heading into the championship match. After shedding the label of "best player never to win a major" with his French Open win, Zverev displayed freedom and confidence, sweeping the second‑set tiebreak to bring the title within reach. Shelton fought back in the third set, creating three break points and eventually converting the second to claim the set 7‑5.
However, Zverev’s momentum proved decisive; he broke early in the fourth set and, despite a brief dip in his serve, closed out the match in 3 hours and 33 minutes. Zverev’s trademark ball‑bouncing—statistics show he spent roughly three hours of his 23‑plus hours on court this fortnight bouncing the ball between serves—earned him a time‑violation warning, but it did not affect the outcome. Meanwhile, Shelton’s girlfriend, U.S.
women’s soccer star Trinity Rodman, performed a logistical feat by traveling 200 miles from a Washington football pitch to Queen’s Club in time to join him in his box, only to watch Zverev clinch the title. 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 future. "When your four‑year‑old son is diagnosed with diabetes and doctors tell you his life and sport will be limited, it takes an incredibly strong mother to say, ‘My son will be whatever he wants to be.’" Zverev said, emphasizing that his mother’s resilience was instrumental in his success.
He also praised Shelton, stating, "Ben, you’re an amazing player and a wonderful 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. 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 more hours on court than anyone else.
You and your team do things the right way, and I’m genuinely happy for you. This is just the beginning for me; I’ll be back here again." Former British No. 1 Tim Henman reflected on Zverev’s evolution, noting, "The perseverance and the way Zverev’s game has improved over the last 12 months is remarkable. A year ago his Grand Slam results were slipping, but he transformed into a more aggressive player.
He’s beaten Shelton five times in a row, and today he looked completely comfortable." Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli highlighted the experience gap, saying, "The difference in their experience was massive. In the first game, Shelton won the toss, served, fell to 30‑30, missed an easy shot and double‑faulted, giving Zverev the first break. It’s not easy to play your first Grand Slam final in front of a home crowd, but 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." The victory cements Zverev’s status as a dominant force on the tour, and his dual Grand Slam victories in 2026 position him as a strong contender for the world No. 1 ranking in the near future.