Zverev beats Shelton to win US Open and claim second Grand Slam
Alexander Zverev won the US Open final against Ben Shelton in four sets, adding to his French Open title from earlier in the year. The German top seed used his experience to quiet the home crowd, while Shelton missed the chance to become the first American male major winner since 2003.
Zverev's victory caps a remarkable career turnaround after he lost three previous major finals, including a painful collapse from two sets up in the 2020 US Open final. His path this year was aided significantly by injuries to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who had dominated the majors in 2024 and 2025. Shelton, meanwhile, missed his chance to end a 23-year drought for American men's singles champions, a wait dating back to Andy Roddick's 2003 triumph.
The match itself turned on early momentum, with Shelton double-faulting on break point in the opening game and again on set point in the first set. Zverev's tie-break prowess proved decisive in the second set, and despite Shelton rallying to take the third, Zverev reasserted control in the fourth. Notably, Zverev initially didn't realize he had won, needing his team to signal the match was over after Shelton's return sailed long.
Zverev's second major title could reshape the men's tennis hierarchy, potentially giving him lasting confidence against the sport's younger stars once Sinner and Alcaraz return to full fitness. For American tennis, Shelton's runner-up finish may nonetheless signal a promising future, though it also extends a frustrating drought that continues to weigh on the sport's domestic fanbase. The result could influence sponsorship interest and broadcast narratives heading into the 2027 season.