Alexander Zverev, the tournament's top seed, shattered 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 courts of Flushing Meadows.
Having already added a French Open triumph to his résumé earlier in the season, Zverev now boasts two Grand Slam titles, an Olympic gold medal, two ATP Finals championships, seven Masters 1000 crowns and a total of 26 tour‑level singles victories. The victory raised speculation about a possible future ascent to world No. 1.
The match concluded in an unusual fashion. On championship point, Shelton’s return sailed long, but Zverev, apparently unaware that the point had ended the match, sent the ball back across the net as if another game were about to begin. Only after glancing at the scoreboard did he realise he had already secured the title. In his post‑match interview with Sky Sports Tennis, Zverev reflected on his family's long‑standing struggles at the Grand Slam level.
"It feels like the Zverev family has endured a lot of hardship at majors, maybe 2026 is the year we finally enjoy it," he said, smiling. "Everything is clicking.
I'm unbelievably happy." He added, "Three months ago, if someone told me I’d win just one Grand Slam in my career, I would have signed that paper without question. To stand here with two majors in a few short months is surreal." When asked about his momentary confusion on championship point, Zverev laughed, "I thought the score was 5‑1. I knew I’d broken him twice, but I believed he’d held once.
I was planning a relaxed service game and then to get tight on the next. It was lucky for me!" He also noted a tennis teaching maxim: "Play each point and forget the score," admitting that momentarily forgetting the tally actually helped him. Shelton entered the final hoping to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open victory, and only the second Black man to do so after Arthur Ashe in 1975. He was greeted by a thunderous ovation from a partisan crowd of roughly 23,000 spectators in the stadium named after Ashe.
Among the celebrity spectators were actors Brad Pitt, Rami Malek and James Bond legend 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, the fourth‑longest total for any player reaching a Grand Slam final since 1991. He began the final aggressively, breaking Shelton’s serve in the opening game and again on set point, establishing early dominance.
Shelton struggled to generate break points in the first two sets as Zverev, seeded No. 1 at a major for the first time, leaned on his powerful serve to keep the American at bay. Prior to this encounter, Shelton had lost all five of his previous meetings with Zverev and, despite a remarkable run in New York, had never beaten either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Carlos Alcaraz before this tournament.
After securing the first set, Zverev continued his free‑flowing tennis, shedding the label of "the best player never to win a major" that had haunted him before his French Open success. He dominated the second‑set tiebreak, edging closer to the championship.
Shelton fought back in the third set, creating three break‑point opportunities and eventually converting the second to take the set 7‑5, briefly reviving hopes for a comeback. However, Zverev’s momentum proved too strong.
In the fourth set, he broke early and never looked back, ultimately sealing the match in three hours and 33 minutes. Statistics highlighted Zverev’s relentless routine: he spent roughly three hours of his cumulative 23‑plus hours on court bouncing the ball between serves, a habit that eventually led to a time‑violation warning. Off the court, Shelton’s girlfriend, U.S. women’s soccer star Trinity Rodman, performed a logistical feat, traveling 200 miles from a Washington football pitch to Queens to join him in his box—only to watch his dream slip away.
After the win, 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 say his life and sport will be limited, it takes an incredibly strong mother to say, ‘My son will be whatever he wants.’" Zverev said. "My mother is the strongest person I know; she made sure this illness never dictated our path." He also lauded Shelton’s character, stating, "Ben, you’re an amazing player and a remarkable 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 6‑0 in Zverev’s favour, marking his 26th career title and 60th victory over a top‑10 opponent. After years of doubt about his ability to capture a major, Zverev closed 2026 with two Grand Slam crowns.
Shelton, who was not even a year old when the last American man won a major, 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 you put in more hours on court than anyone else. You and your team do things the right way, and I’m genuinely happy for you.
I’m just getting started and I’ll be back here again." Former British No. 1 Tim Henman praised Zverev’s evolution, noting, "His perseverance and the way his game has improved over the last 12 months is remarkable. He turned a backward‑sliding Grand Slam record into an aggressive, winning style. 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 experience was massive.
Shelton won the toss, served, fell to 30‑30, missed an easy shot and double‑faulted, giving Zverev the first break. It’s tough to play your first Grand Slam final in front of a home crowd and try to please everyone. Zverev made only one unforced error in the first set, making Shelton’s job extremely difficult.
There’s no shame in losing to a player performing at this level." Fans can continue to follow tennis without a contract via NOW and the Sky Sports app, with upcoming coverage of the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25‑27 September.