NEW YORK — Alexander Zverev has finally captured the US Open men’s singles championship, defeating American No. 8 seed Ben Shelton in a thrilling four-set final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The top-seeded German prevailed 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in a match that lasted approximately three and a half hours. The victory gives Zverev his second Grand Slam title of 2026, following his breakthrough French Open championship earlier this year.
The victory was particularly significant for Zverev because of his history at the US Open. Six years ago, he came within one set of winning the tournament before losing the 2020 final to Dominic Thiem after holding a two-set lead. This time, Zverev maintained his composure when the pressure increased and closed out the championship in four sets.
Shelton, competing in his first Grand Slam final, refused to go quietly. After dropping the opening two sets, the 23-year-old American fought back to take the third set 7-5, briefly giving the home crowd hope of a dramatic comeback. Zverev responded immediately, however, controlling the fourth set and pulling away to secure the title.
The final was also an important moment for American tennis. Shelton was attempting to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open. He also made history by becoming the first Black American man to reach the US Open men’s final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
Shelton’s run to the final included an extraordinary quarterfinal victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, followed by a semifinal win over fellow American Frances Tiafoe. Despite falling short in the championship match, his breakthrough performance established him as one of the leading young players in men’s tennis.
For Zverev, the championship caps one of the strongest Grand Slam seasons of his career. With his French Open and US Open victories, he has now established himself as a two-time major champion after previously reaching three Grand Slam finals without winning a title.
The German’s victory also earns him a record $5.5 million prize, the largest singles prize awarded at a Grand Slam tournament.
Zverev’s US Open triumph represents both a major career milestone and a comeback from one of the most painful defeats of his career. Six years after coming so close to lifting the trophy in New York, he finally gets his moment as US Open champion.
