Alexander Zverev has openly declared that, in his view, he stands as the premier tennis player on the planet after clinching the US Open crown. The German star secured the championship by defeating American hopeful Ben Shelton in a four‑set final on Sunday, a result that left the home crowd in New York visibly disappointed.
The match marked Zverev's sixth appearance in a Grand Slam final, while it was Shelton's inaugural run to a major final. The experience gap was evident as Zverev prevailed 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), 5‑7, 6‑2, quashing the United States' lingering dream of producing a male champion for the first time since Andy Roddick lifted the trophy in 2003. The 29‑year‑old German has been the most consistent presence in the majors this season. Earlier in the year, Carlos Alcaraz, who captured the Australian Open title, suffered a quarter‑final loss to Shelton after a lengthy injury lay‑off, while world No.
1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament entirely due to a pre‑event injury despite having just won Wimbledon. Zverev, meanwhile, finally broke through at the French Open to claim his maiden major and later reached the Wimbledon final at the All England Club, where he fell to Sinner. His 2026 Grand Slam record stands at an impressive 25‑2, and Zverev believes the current circumstances cement his claim as the best player in the world.
"You have to take everything into consideration," he explained. "With Jannik injured and Carlos still recovering 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." Zverev's concentration on the match was so intense that he did not immediately realize he had secured the title when Shelton mishit a return. The umpire's proclamation of "Game, set and match, Zverev" rang out, and the German champion walked back to the baseline, ready to receive the next serve. Only after a brief pause did he notice the standing ovation from the crowd, prompting a delayed smile and a rush to the net to embrace Shelton.
In an interview with Sky Sports Tennis, Zverev recounted his mental state during the final moments: "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!" Looking ahead, Zverev is poised to challenge for the world No. 1 ranking.
When the next ATP rankings are published, he is expected to hold 9,690 points, trailing Jannik Sinner by just 1,810 points. Over the remainder of the season, Zverev is projected to lose only about 1,080 points, whereas Sinner could see a drop of roughly 3,550 points, potentially opening the door for the German to ascend to the top spot.
Shelton, for his part, expressed a hunger for more moments in the spotlight of 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. His performance also highlighted the broader narrative of American tennis development. The USTA had previously pointed to Taylor Fritz's 2024 campaign as evidence of progress following a sweeping overhaul of its player‑development program that began in 2008. Additionally, the governing body has sought to broaden the sport's demographic reach through a partnership with the American Tennis Association, aiming to increase Black representation in a sport historically dominated by white athletes.
Shelton made history simply by stepping onto the court on Sunday; he became the first Black American man to compete in a US Open final in 54 years, the last being Arthur Ashe, after whom the tournament's iconic center court is named. "I don't think I'm anywhere near the player that I want to be.
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 semifinalist and 2004 finalist offered his perspective on 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 going backwards. But he has transformed himself to be more aggressive, and 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 the ongoing debate about the sport's hierarchy. While Alcaraz and Sinner have both demonstrated extraordinary talent, injuries have hampered their ability to consistently dominate the tour. Zverev's blend of powerful baseline play, improved aggression, and mental resilience suggests he may be entering the prime of his career, ready to challenge for the top ranking and add further Grand Slam titles to his résumé.
Fans can continue to follow Zverev's journey and watch upcoming matches via streaming platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, which also provide coverage of events like the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27.