Alexander Zverev Wins 2026 US Open, Defeats Ben Shelton in Four Sets

Zverev Claims Second Grand Slam Title

Alexander Zverev won the 2026 US Open men’s singles final on Sunday, defeating American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2. The victory gave the 29-year-old German his second Grand Slam title and his second major of the year, following his maiden Slam win at the French Open in June. During the post-match ceremony, Zverev told his team that they went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam and now they have won two in the span of three months. He said 2026 is the outcome of all the years that came before.

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Shelton’s Bid Falls Short

Shelton was trying to become the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick won the US Open 23 years ago. However, he could not overcome the top seed, whose big-match experience ultimately carried him over the line. Coming into the final, Alexander Zverev held a 5-0 advantage in their head-to-head record. 

Shelton had only managed to win one set against Zverev in their first meeting in 2024. Zverev was also 44-1 against left-handers since the French Open in 2023, as he generally favours the forehand-to-backhand exchanges that the matchup produces. Zverev was contesting his sixth Grand Slam final and third this year, while Shelton had never reached that stage before.

How the Match Unfolded

On the second point of the match, Zverev showed why his rally-extending abilities make him such a punishing opponent for Shelton. Shelton used his forehand to put Zverev on the back foot, but Zverev stayed in the rally with his defensive skills. Shelton tried to drag him off the court with an angled forehand, but Zverev returned it with a precise backhand. Shelton brought him forward with a drop shot, but Zverev got to it, closed down at the net, and drew an error. 

Zverev broke Shelton in that game on his first opportunity, which was all he needed to claim the first set. He broke Shelton again at 5-3 as the American hit his second double fault on set point. Shelton could not gain a foothold in Zverev’s service games. Despite winning six of seven points on Zverev’s second serve, he did not record one on Zverev’s first until eight games into the match. Zverev was reaching Shelton-like speeds on that shot, hitting one at 141 mph.

In the second set, Shelton started to sink his teeth into the match. He saved a break point for the first time and won a rally over nine shots for the first time. He mostly held with ease but still could not do much on the return. He continued to rack up errors at inopportune times. Shelton was able to force a tiebreak, thanks in part to a drop volley winner that brought the Ashe crowd to its feet. But Zverev quieted the noise in the tiebreak, winning the first five points and taking the second set. 

In the third set, Shelton finally earned a break point, but it was promptly erased with a backhand winner. As the match careened toward a possible straight-set conclusion, Shelton started to make Zverev work harder to hold. He claimed two rallies with lobs that sent spectators into hysterics. But every breathtaking Shelton shot was seemingly matched by an equally deflating error on the next point. 

As Zverev served to take it to a third-set tiebreak, Shelton began to unload on his shots. Zverev felt the pressure and committed two uncharacteristic errors to give the American three break-point opportunities. Shelton needed just two to take it to a fourth set, and the crowd erupted. It ended a streak of 66 consecutive service holds for Zverev in the matchup.

The fourth set showed how much Zverev has grown as a big-match player. He dug in and refused to surrender the first game, breaking Shelton immediately and clawing the momentum back. He broke Shelton once more for good measure. He lost just four points on his serve the entire set and won the championship with an unreturned serve. He was so dialled in that he did not even know he had won.

What It Means for Alexander Zverev

It was a workmanlike performance from Zverev, who managed his nerve, his serve, and a pro-Shelton crowd to emerge victorious. The German has spent the majority of his career weighted down by the title of best never to win a major. For years, he stood in the shadow of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal. He was two points away from getting over the hump at the 2020 US Open. Instead, he watched his contemporary Daniil Medvedev lift the championship trophy in Flushing Meadows a year later.

Then, as Federer and Nadal retired, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner emerged. Zverev contested two more finals against them and lost both. Finally, in June, on the clay at Roland Garros, he did not need to face either one and took advantage to lift his first Grand Slam trophy. Just three months later, he has lifted his second. 

Zverev’s Emotional Tribute

In his victory speech, Zverev paid special tribute to his mother. He said that when your 4-year-old son gets diagnosed with diabetes and doctors in the office tell you that life and sports will be very limited for that child. That takes a very strong mother to walk out of those offices and say her son will be whatever he wants to be. He said that if he wants to be a tennis player, he will be a tennis player, and if he wants to do something else, he will do something else. But this illness will not define them. He said he is happy that they worked through it and that they are doing the things they are doing right now.

Match Point Statistics

Alexander Zverev was too strong on his first serve, winning 85 per cent of points behind that weapon. He won 11 of 12 first-serve points in the third set. The victory sealed his second Grand Slam title and continued his remarkable 2026 season.

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