Alexander Zverev insists that, after his triumph at the US Open, he now stands as the premier tennis player on the planet. The German star clinched the championship by defeating American hopeful Ben Shelton in a four‑set final on Sunday, a result that left the New York crowd stunned and disappointed. The match marked Zverev's sixth appearance in a Grand Slam final, while it was Shelton's inaugural major final. The experience gap was evident in the 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), 5‑7, 6‑2 scoreline, which extinguished the United States' lingering hope of producing a male champion for the first time since Andy Roddick captured the title in 2003.
Zverev's victory came in a season that has been anything but ordinary for the sport's elite. Carlos Alcaraz, the 2024 Australian Open champion, suffered a quarter‑final exit at the hands of Shelton after a prolonged injury layoff, while world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew before the tournament began due to a fresh injury despite having just secured Wimbledon. In this context, the 29‑year‑old German has emerged as the most consistent Grand Slam performer of the year. After finally breaking through to claim his maiden major at Roland Garros, Zverev reached the Wimbledon final at the All England Club, where he was bested by Sinner.
His 2026 Grand Slam record now stands at an impressive 25‑2, a statistic that fuels his belief that he is the best player in the world right now. "You have to take everything into consideration," Zverev told the press.
"With Jannik injured and Carlos still returning from a four‑month layoff, I would say yes, I'm the top player at the moment. If both of them were fully healthy and at the peak of their games, perhaps the answer would be different. Four or five months ago, when they were fit, I was losing to Jannik all the time.
So, with everyone healthy, I think Jannik still has the edge. It's as simple as that." During the final, Zverev was so absorbed in the point‑by‑point battle that he did not immediately realize he had secured the championship when Shelton's return sailed long. It was only after the umpire announced "Game, set and match Zverev" that the German finally registered the roaring applause from the crowd.
He paused, smiled, and then rushed to the net to congratulate Shelton. Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, Zverev recounted his confusion: "I thought the score was 5‑1! I knew I had broken him twice, but I believed he had only held serve once. I was thinking, 'Okay, I'm going to have a relaxed service game here and then I'll tighten up on the next one.' It was lucky for me!" He added, "Coaches always tell you to play each point and forget the score.
Well, I forgot the score, and it actually helped me." With the next edition of the ATP rankings imminent, Zverev is poised to challenge for the world No. 1 spot. The projected tally of 9,690 points would leave him just 1,810 points behind Sinner, who is expected to lose 3,550 points over the remainder of the season, while Zverev is likely to drop only about 1,080. This points differential could see the German ascend to the top of the rankings for the first time in his career.
Shelton, meanwhile, expressed his enthusiasm for the experience: "It's such a cool moment. Walking out onto that court today, there's nothing like it. I've never felt anything like that before.
It's an addictive feeling being in positions like this," the 23‑year‑old said. The USTA has highlighted Taylor Fritz's 2024 campaign as evidence of progress within American tennis, especially after a sweeping overhaul of its player development program that began in 2008. The governing body has also sought to broaden the sport's demographic reach through a partnership with the American Tennis Association, aiming to increase Black representation in a sport that has historically been dominated by white athletes.
Shelton made history simply by stepping onto the Centre Court, becoming the first Black American man to contest the US Open final in 54 years, the last being Arthur Ashe, after whom the iconic court is named. "I don't think I'm anywhere near the player I want to be yet.
I consider myself a great competitor and I think I perform well out there on the court," Shelton reflected. "I can stay focused for long periods, and that endurance will help me in the future." Former US Open semi‑finalist and 2004 finalist Kevin Anderson praised Zverev's evolution: "The perseverance and the way Zverev's game has improved over the last 12 months is remarkable. I looked back at his Grand Slam results and his game seemed to be regressing, but he has transformed into a more aggressive player.
In this matchup, Zverev had beaten Shelton five times in a row, and he looked completely comfortable. Shelton fought hard to take the third set, but losing his serve early in the fourth gave Zverev a surge of energy, and he coasted from there." Fans can continue to follow tennis action without a contract through the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app, and they can also catch the upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25‑27 September live on Sky Sports.