Alexander Zverev insists that, following his triumph at the US Open, he now stands as the premier male tennis competitor on the planet. The German star secured the championship by defeating American rising talent Ben Shelton in a four‑set final that left the New York crowd both stunned and disappointed. The match marked Zverev's sixth appearance in a Grand Slam final, while Shelton was making his debut at that stage. The result – 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), 5‑7, 6‑2 – not only handed Zverev his first US Open title but also extinguished the hopes of an American audience yearning for a home‑grown champion for the first time since Andy Roddick lifted the trophy in 2003.
In a season that has already seen significant upheaval among the sport's elite, Zverev's victory carries added weight. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew before the tournament began due to a lingering injury after his Wimbledon win, and Carlos Alcaraz – the 2024 Australian Open champion – suffered a quarter‑final exit at the hands of Shelton after a four‑month injury lay‑off.
With two of his chief rivals sidelined or not at full strength, Zverev felt the circumstances favored his claim to the top spot. Zverev’s path to this moment has been a steady climb. He finally broke through to claim his maiden major at Roland Garros, then reached the Wimbledon final at the All England Club, where he was bested by Sinner.
In 2026 he has compiled an impressive 25‑2 record in Grand Slam matches, a statistic he cites as evidence of his current superiority. "You have to take everything into consideration," Zverev explained. "With Jannik injured and Carlos just coming back from a long lay‑off, right now, probably yes. If they were both healthy and playing at their peak, maybe not.
Four or five months ago, when they were both fit, I was losing to Jannik all the time. So if everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead. It’s as simple as that." During the final, Zverev was so absorbed in the point‑by‑point battle that he did not initially realize he had clinched the championship when Shelton’s return sailed long. The umpire’s announcement of "Game, set and match – Zverev" was met with a standing ovation from the crowd, prompting the German to finally register the significance of the moment.
He broke into a smile and rushed to the net to congratulate Shelton, who had fought valiantly to push the match into a fourth set. Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, Zverev recounted his mental state: "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 – coaches always say play each point and forget the score. Well, I forgot the score and it helped me!" The win positions Zverev tantalisingly close to the world No. 1 ranking. When the next edition of the ATP rankings is released, he is projected to hold 9,690 points, trailing Sinner by just 1,810 points.
Over the remainder of the season Zverev is expected to lose only about 1,080 points, whereas Sinner could drop roughly 3,550, potentially allowing the German to overtake the top spot. Shelton, meanwhile, expressed his enthusiasm for the experience of playing on tennis’s 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, acknowledging the historic nature of his appearance as the first Black American man in the New York final since Arthur Ashe 54 years ago. The USTA has highlighted the progress of American players like Taylor Fritz as evidence of the effectiveness of its revamped player‑development program, which was overhauled in 2008. Additionally, the governing body has pursued greater diversity through a partnership with the American Tennis Association, aiming to increase Black representation in a sport traditionally dominated by white athletes.
Reflecting on Zverev’s evolution, a former US Open semi‑finalist from 2004 noted, "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 seemed to be going backwards, but he has transformed himself to be more aggressive. When you consider 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 early in the fourth settled Zverev down and gave him more energy. He coasted from there." Zverev’s victory, his confidence in being the sport’s current best, and the shifting dynamics among the top players set the stage for an intriguing battle for the No. 1 ranking as the season progresses.
Fans can continue to follow the drama on platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, and even catch the upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25‑27 September via Sky Sports.