Zverev's focus silences a hostile crowd
Alexander Zverev tuned out the noise so completely that he did not realize he had won the US Open final. The chair umpire's announcement that the match was over went unheard as he stood behind the baseline, ready to return serve. He later explained that he thought the score was 5-1. Only after a moment did he raise his arms in celebration. Zverev said he had been in a tunnel, hearing nothing at all.[S1]
The German top seed beat Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 on Sunday in New York, a match that lasted three hours and 33 minutes. It was his second Grand Slam title, following his French Open breakthrough in June, and it prevented Shelton from becoming the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick in 2003. Shelton was also trying to become the first Black player to win the men's US Open title since Arthur Ashe in 1968.[S1][S2]
Zverev, the No. 1 seed at a Grand Slam for the first time, capitalized on Shelton's shaky start in his first major final. He broke Shelton in the opening game and controlled most of the match behind his return game, jumping out to a two-sets-to-love lead after a dominant tiebreaker. Shelton clawed back to win the third set, but Zverev broke immediately to open the fourth and closed it out by winning five of the last seven games.[S1][S2]
A redemption six years in the making
Zverev's victory completed a redemption arc that began in 2020, when he led Dominic Thiem two sets to love in the US Open final before losing in five. He had come within two points of victory and became the first man since 1949 to blow a two-set lead and lose the final. After that defeat, he told his team through tears that he hoped one day they would all lift the trophy together. He kept his word on Sunday.[S1][S2]
The 2026 season has been Zverev's best. He also reached the Wimbledon final, falling to Jannik Sinner, and became the No. 1 seed in New York when the top-ranked Sinner withdrew with a knee injury. He made the most of opportunities that came when Carlos Alcaraz sat out two majors and Sinner missed another, after the three had played in three straight Grand Slam finals in 2025. Zverev finished the year with a 25-2 record at majors, the most match wins of any player this season.[S1][S2]
Zverev's win also ended Germany's three-decade wait for a Grand Slam champion. He noted that the country had gone 30 years without a major title before his French Open win, and now had two in three months. Boris Becker's 1996 Australian Open title had been Germany's last men's major. Zverev earned $5.5 million for the US Open title, matching the prize won by women's champion Elena Rybakina on Saturday as the largest in Grand Slam history.[S1][S2]
Shelton's historic run falls short
Ben Shelton's path to the final was historic in its own right. His semifinal win over fellow American Frances Tiafoe made him the first Black American man to reach a US Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1968. He had already eliminated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal that ended at 3:33 a.m., the latest finish in US Open history. He fell short on Sunday in his attempt to become the first man to beat the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds en route to the US Open title since 1975.[S1][S2]
The No. 8 seed fell to 0-6 against Zverev, winning a set Sunday for only the second time. Shelton kept fighting, at one point diving in an attempt to get a volley back, resting his head on his hands when he couldn't and then banging his hand to the court. He picked himself back up and finally broke Zverev for the only time to win the third set. But with Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and a number of their teammates in attendance, Shelton couldn't pull off a championship comeback like those New York Knicks did in June.[S1]
Shelton was gracious following his defeat, calling the tournament a step toward bigger things to come and calling the US Open his happy place. Zverev praised Shelton in his trophy speech, saying the American was an incredible player and person and that he would be back many more times. Shelton, 23, figures to get more chances, but Americans who have grown tired of waiting to celebrate a men's title wanted it now.[S1][S2]
