Alexander Zverev has publicly stated that, in his view, he is the leading tennis player on the planet right now, a claim that follows his triumph at the US Open. The German star secured the championship by defeating American Ben Shelton in the final on Sunday, a result that left the home crowd in New York visibly disappointed. This match marked Zverev's sixth appearance in a Grand Slam final, while it was Shelton's inaugural appearance at that stage. The experience gap was evident in the 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), 5‑7, 6‑2 scoreline, which effectively ended America's hopes of producing a male champion for the first time since Andy Roddick lifted the trophy in 2003.
Zverev's victory came at a time when the men’s tennis landscape was unusually unsettled. Carlos Alcaraz, the Australian Open champion earlier in the year, was eliminated in the US Open quarter‑finals by Shelton after returning from a lengthy injury lay‑off. Meanwhile, world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew before the tournament began due to a fresh injury, despite having captured the Wimbledon title just weeks earlier.
The 29‑year‑old German had already broken through at the French Open, winning his first major there, and he had reached the final at Wimbledon, where he fell to Sinner. His 2026 Grand Slam record now stands at an impressive 25 wins against just two losses, a statistic that bolsters his belief that he is currently the sport’s best. "You have to take everything into consideration," Zverev explained when asked about his claim.
"With Jannik injured and Carlos just coming back from a four‑month lay‑off, right now, probably yes. If both of them were healthy and at the peak of their game, 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 immediately realise he had secured the title when Shelton mishit a return deep into the court. The umpire’s announcement of "Game, set and match, Zverev" rang out, yet the German champion continued to walk back to the baseline, preparing for Shelton’s next serve.
Only after a brief pause did he notice the standing ovation from the spectators, prompting a delayed smile and a rush to the net to congratulate his opponent. In a post‑match interview with Sky Sports Tennis, Zverev recounted his mental state: "I thought the score was 5‑1! I knew that 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 tell you to play each point and forget the score.
Well, I forgot the score and it helped me!" Looking ahead, Zverev is positioned to make a serious push for the world number one ranking. When the next edition of the ATP rankings is published, he is projected to hold 9,690 points, trailing Jannik 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 see a drop of roughly 3,550 points, potentially narrowing the gap dramatically. Shelton, for his part, expressed enthusiasm about 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. The USTA has previously highlighted Taylor Fritz's 2024 campaign as evidence of progress within American tennis, following 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, announcing a partnership with the American Tennis Association last year to increase Black representation in what has historically been a predominantly white sport.
Shelton made history simply by stepping onto the court for the final, becoming the first Black American man to contest the US Open final in 54 years—a milestone not seen since Arthur Ashe, after whom the tournament’s iconic showpiece court is named. "I don't think I'm anywhere near the player that I want to be yet. I think I'm a great competitor. I think I compete really well out there on the court," Shelton reflected.
"I'm able to stay focused and stay there on the court for many, many hours. I think that's going to help me in the future moving forward." Former US Open semi‑finalist and 2004 finalist also praised Zverev’s evolution: "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 regressing, but he has transformed himself to be more aggressive. When you reflect on 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 in the first game of the fourth settled Zverev down and gave him more energy. He coasted from there." Beyond the immediate aftermath, Zverev’s victory adds a new chapter to his career narrative, positioning him as a serious contender for the year‑end No. 1 spot and potentially reshaping the hierarchy of men’s tennis for the coming seasons.
His blend of powerful baseline play, improved aggression, and mental resilience appears to have reached a new peak, and with several top rivals currently sidelined by injuries, the window of opportunity may be wider than ever. Fans can continue to follow Zverev’s progress through live streams on platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, and the upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London (25‑27 September) will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports, offering another venue for the German star to showcase his evolving game.