Zverev quiets Shelton and New York to claim first US Open crown
Alexander Zverev beat Ben Shelton in four sets to secure his first US Open championship and second major title of 2026, combining dominant serving with greater aggression under pressure.
Alexander Zverev beats Ben Shelton in 4 sets to win US Open
Alexander Zverev evolved to beat Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Instead, he beat everyone else
US Open 2026 results: Alexander Zverev beats Ben Shelton for second Grand Slam title
Where to watch men's US Open 2026 final
2026 US Open Men's Final: Prediction for Zverev vs. Shelton
A breakthrough that once looked out of reach
Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, collecting his first US Open championship and his second Grand Slam title of 2026.espn +1 The 29-year-old German also denied Shelton the chance to become the first American man to win a major singles crown since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open.bbc
The victory completed a striking reversal for Zverev, who entered the year without a major title after losing his first three Grand Slam finals. He broke through at the French Open in June, reached the Wimbledon final and finished the majors with a 25-2 record, becoming the fourth man in the Open era to win his first two major titles in one season.espn
Serve and composure quiet the home crowd
Shelton double-faulted to surrender the opening game and again on set point, allowing Zverev to dictate the early rhythm. The second set offered the American a path back, but Zverev dominated the tiebreak, racing ahead through a passing shot, a 16-stroke rally and serves measured as high as 147 mph.espn Shelton finally broke serve to take the third set, only to lose his opening service game in the fourth as Zverev regained control.
The champion was so absorbed that he initially failed to realize the match had ended, returning to the baseline after Shelton missed the final return. Zverev said he had forgotten the score and thought it was 5-1 rather than 6-2, describing himself as being in a “tunnel” where he could not hear the umpire.atptour
Opportunity met a more aggressive game
Zverev’s route was helped by the absence of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who withdrew with a knee injury, and by Shelton’s quarterfinal victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.nytimes Shelton’s run still marked a major advance: the 23-year-old reached his first Grand Slam final after winning the Canadian Open, but fell to 0-6 in his career against Zverev.bbc
The title was not solely a product of an open draw. Zverev has worked to move forward sooner in rallies rather than relying on passive defense, a change designed to make him more competitive with Sinner and Alcaraz.nytimes Against Shelton, that adjustment complemented an elite serve and durable backhand. It also showed why surviving difficult early rounds and staying healthy can matter as much as defeating the sport’s biggest names.