Alexander Zverev Beats Ben Shelton to Win 2026 US Open/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 to capture his first US Open championship.
The victory gave Zverev his second Grand Slam title of 2026 following his breakthrough at the French Open. Shelton’s loss extended the wait for an American men’s major champion, a drought dating to Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open victory.
Quick Look
- Final score: Zverev defeated Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2.
- It was Zverev’s first US Open championship.
- He has now won two Grand Slam titles.
- Zverev improved to 25-2 in major matches during 2026.
- He received a record-equaling $5.5 million prize.
- Shelton was competing in his first Grand Slam final.
- No American man has won a major singles title since 2003.
- Shelton was trying to become the first Black men’s US Open champion since Arthur Ashe in 1968.
- Zverev improved his career record against Shelton to 6-0.
Deep Look
Zverev wins his first US Open title
NEW YORK — Alexander Zverev blocked out a strongly pro-American crowd to defeat Ben Shelton and secure his first US Open championship.
Zverev became so focused during the final that he did not immediately realize he had won. He failed to hear the chair umpire announce the end of the match and initially returned behind the baseline as though preparing for another point.
“In that moment I was in the zone, a lot,” Zverev said. “I didn’t hear noise at all. I was in this kind of tunnel where I just didn’t hear anything.”
The German defeated Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2, earning his second Grand Slam championship and preventing an American man from winning a major singles title for the first time since 2003.
Two Grand Slam victories in one season
Zverev entered 2026 with a reputation as one of the world’s leading players who had yet to win a major championship.
He ended that drought by capturing the French Open and then added the US Open title in New York. Zverev also reached the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Jannik Sinner.
Competing as the No. 1 seed at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time, Zverev took advantage of Shelton’s uncertain opening and produced an almost flawless serving performance during the second-set tiebreaker.
He later stopped Shelton’s attempt to force a fifth set as the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd continued to support the American.
Shelton’s girlfriend, American soccer star Trinity Rodman, joined the crowd after traveling from her own match in Washington and arrived before the tennis final ended.
“I know today 99.9% of the people wanted Ben to win, so I’m very sorry first of all,” Zverev said during the trophy presentation. “But second, it was an incredible atmosphere to play in. Even though I know that the crowd was against me, the crowd was always incredibly fair.”
American men’s Grand Slam drought continues
Shelton was attempting to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles championship since Andy Roddick captured the 2003 US Open.
He also hoped to become the first Black man to win the singles title at Flushing Meadows since Arthur Ashe claimed the inaugural US Open championship in 1968.
“It’s such a cool moment. Walking out on that court today, there’s nothing like it. I’ve never felt anything like that before,” Shelton said.
The 23-year-old was playing in his first major final after an impressive tournament run, but he could not overcome Zverev’s serving, consistency and experience.
Zverev initially misses his winning moment
After striking the final service winner, Zverev moved behind the baseline and appeared ready to receive another return of serve.
He later explained that he mistakenly believed the score was 5-1 in the fourth set.
Once he realized the match had ended, Zverev raised his arms and celebrated a championship that completed his transformation into the season’s most successful men’s Grand Slam player.
Zverev dominates the year’s major tournaments
Zverev completed the Grand Slam season with a 25-2 match record and two titles from three major finals.
He received $5.5 million for winning the US Open, matching the record prize awarded to women’s champion Elena Rybakina one day earlier.
“You’re one of the very best players in the world, maybe the best player in the world this year,” Shelton told Zverev.
The season’s success followed years of disappointment and injury for Zverev, including one of the most painful defeats of his career at the same tournament.
Redemption after the 2020 final
Zverev appeared poised to win his first major championship at the 2020 US Open when he took the opening two sets against Dominic Thiem.
He later moved within two points of victory but ultimately lost in five sets. Zverev became the first man since 1949 to surrender a two-set advantage and lose a US Open final.
Six years later, the disappointment surrounding that defeat has been replaced by championships in Paris and New York.
“I think God has seen how hard we worked, how much we suffered, how much pain we went through and I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before,” Zverev said while addressing his team.
Zverev capitalizes on an unusual Grand Slam season
Zverev became the top seed in New York after world No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew because of a knee injury.
Carlos Alcaraz missed two major tournaments during the season, while Sinner sat out another. Their absences created opportunities after the two players had appeared in three consecutive Grand Slam finals during 2025.
Zverev took full advantage, winning the French Open, reaching the Wimbledon final and securing the US Open championship.
Shelton’s memorable path to the final
Shelton entered the championship match after eliminating defending champion and No. 2 seed Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal.
That match ended at 3:33 a.m., establishing the record for the latest finish in US Open history.
Shelton then defeated fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals to reach his first major championship match.
A victory over Zverev would have made Shelton the first man since 1975 to defeat both the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds on his way to the US Open title.
Instead, the eighth-seeded American dropped to 0-6 in his career against Zverev. The third set was only the second Shelton has taken from the German during their rivalry.
Shelton struggles at the beginning
The crowd stood and cheered when Shelton emerged from the tunnel before the match, but his opening service game immediately went wrong.
He lost the first two points and eventually surrendered the game with a double-fault.
Zverev protected that early break throughout the first set. Another Shelton double-fault brought the set to an end at 6-3.
Shelton’s nervous start forced him to chase the score against an opponent who was playing with confidence and control.
Zverev’s deliberate routine quiets the crowd
Zverev’s measured service routine helped reduce the crowd’s impact.
Spectators are expected to remain silent while a player prepares to serve and throughout a point. Zverev regularly bounces the ball numerous times before beginning his motion—sometimes about 10 or 12 times and occasionally close to 20.
Although Zverev insists there is no planned number, the routine produced long periods of silence inside the stadium.
Some spectators attempted to disrupt that rhythm by cheering after missed first serves, a breach of tennis etiquette that prompted a warning from the chair umpire.
Zverev had said before the match that he enjoyed competing before hostile crowds, and he appeared unaffected by the noise.
Near-perfect tiebreaker gives Zverev control
Fans chanted “USA! USA!” as Shelton attempted to level the match during the second-set tiebreaker.
Shelton sent his return of Zverev’s opening serve long. Zverev followed with an excellent passing shot and then won a 16-shot rally to take a 3-0 advantage.
The German produced serves measured at 147 mph and 124 mph that Shelton could not return.
Shelton narrowed the margin to 5-2 and put a return in play for the first time in the tiebreaker, but Zverev still won the point. He then fired a 139-mph serve to complete the tiebreaker 7-2 and take a two-set lead.
Shelton fights back in third set
Shelton refused to surrender despite facing a significant deficit.
During one point, he dived while attempting to reach a volley. After missing it, he rested his head on his hands and struck the court before standing and continuing.
The American eventually broke Zverev for the only time in the match and captured the third set 7-5, energizing the home crowd and preserving his championship hopes.
Zverev closes the match in fourth
Several members of the NBA champion New York Knicks attended the final, including Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Shelton could not produce the type of championship comeback the Knicks had completed in June.
Zverev broke Shelton in the opening game of the fourth set, marking the second time in the match that the American dropped his first service game of a set.
Forced to play from behind again, Shelton was unable to recover. Zverev took the fourth set 6-2, completing his first New York championship and extending the American men’s Grand Slam drought.
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