Alex Zverev bested American Ben Shelton to win his first US Open title on Sunday. The German dismantled the world No. 9, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2, in a three-and-a-half-hour battle to capture his first US Open title.
Before Sunday, Zverev had never lost to Shelton in their five previous meetings, and he wasn’t about to let that change. Despite spending more than 19 hours on court during the fortnight at Flushing Meadows, Zverev returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium energized and ready for the challenge.
Zverev’s precision from the baseline powered him to victory. He won 85% of his first-serve points and expertly moved Shelton around the court with his placement and consistency. Zverev also frequently attacked the net, dictating play for much of the match. He finished with 35 winners and nine aces en route to the championship.
By the third set, what appeared destined to be a straight-sets victory took a turn. Shelton adjusted his approach, taking the ball earlier and striking with greater aggression. The American claimed the third set, but he couldn’t sustain the momentum. Zverev quickly regained control in the fourth and closed out the match against the tournament’s No. 8 seed.
“You you’re one of the very best players in the world, maybe the best player in the world this year,” Shelton told Zverev after the match.
The 2026 season has been a breakthrough year for Zverev. Sunday’s victory secured his first US Open crown and second Grand Slam title, following his French Open triumph in June. He had previously made it to the 2020 US Open final before succumbing to Dominic Thiem in five sets.
“It feels amazing, especially with the heartbreak I had in 2020 here,” Zverev said in his post-match press conference.
While Arthur Ashe stadium was solidly behind Shelton and his quest to be the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick in 2003, Zverev was on a similar pursuit of his own. While the outcome from Sunday’s match has left Americans still in the midst of their so-called American tennis drought, Zverev’s win ended Germany’s 37-year wait for a men’s US Open champion. The last German man to lift the trophy was Boris Becker in 1989.
“We went, we went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title, and now we won two in a span of three months,” Zverev said.
