Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in four sets to win his first US Open title and claim the second Grand Slam championship of his career.
The top-seeded German defeated No. 8 seed Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 in a thrilling final that lasted three hours and 33 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday.
The victory gives Alexander Zverev his second Grand Slam title of 2026 after he won the French Open at Roland Garros earlier this year.
At 29, Zverev capped a remarkable season by adding the US Open trophy to his growing collection of major titles.
Alexander Zverev Controls US Open Final
Zverev made a strong start against Shelton, breaking ahead early in the opening set and establishing a 3-1 advantage.
Shelton’s powerful serve, which had been one of his biggest weapons throughout the tournament, struggled to disrupt Zverev’s rhythm.
The German maintained control and closed out the opening set 6-3.
The second set was considerably more competitive as Shelton responded to Zverev’s powerful baseline game and kept the pressure on the top seed.
The set eventually went to a tiebreak, but Zverev produced his best tennis at the crucial moment. He raced into a 5-0 lead and went on to win the tiebreak 7-2, taking a commanding two-set advantage.
Shelton refused to surrender despite falling two sets behind.
The 23-year-old American raised his level in the third set, with the New York crowd increasingly getting behind him. Shelton moved ahead 4-3 before the set developed into another tense exchange of breaks and holds.
The American eventually secured the set 7-5, giving himself a chance to complete a dramatic comeback.
The result also prevented Zverev from winning the final in straight sets. Despite Shelton’s momentum and the support of the home crowd, Zverev remained composed at the start of the fourth set.
The German quickly regained control and prevented Shelton from building on his third-set success.
Zverev dominated the final set 6-2 to secure his first US Open championship.
After Shelton failed to return Zverev’s serve on championship point, the German initially appeared not to realize that the match was over. Moments later, Zverev celebrated with his team and shouted toward his box as the significance of his achievement became clear.
Second Grand Slam Title of 2026
The Alexander Zverev US Open victory is the second Grand Slam title of his career.
His first major championship came earlier in 2026 at the French Open, where he won the Roland Garros title.
The German’s triumph in New York completes a remarkable Grand Slam season and further establishes him among the leading players of his generation.
Zverev finished the year with a 25-2 record in Grand Slam matches, underlining his consistency across the four major tournaments.
Shelton’s Historic US Open Run
Although Ben Shelton fell short in the final, his run to the championship match represented another major milestone in his career.
The 23-year-old American battled through a difficult four-set final and managed to extend the contest by taking the third set from Zverev.
The New York crowd strongly supported Shelton as he attempted to become the latest American men’s player to win the US Open.
However, Zverev’s experience and consistency proved decisive in the final set.
Zverev will take home $5.5 million for winning the men’s singles title.
The prize matches the amount awarded to women’s singles champion Elena Rybakina, who won the women’s title on Saturday.
The $5.5 million payout represents the largest prize awarded to a Grand Slam singles champion.
Zverev knew that much of the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd was supporting Shelton, but he still expressed appreciation for the fans after his victory.
The German thanked the crowd for their support throughout his two weeks in New York.
The atmosphere added another layer to a final that featured long rallies, momentum swings and intense pressure on both players.
Ultimately, Zverev’s ability to recover after losing the third set allowed him to close out the championship in four sets.
Alexander Zverev’s US Open 2026 Final Stats
- Winner: Alexander Zverev
- Runner-up: Ben Shelton
- Final score: 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2
- Match duration: 3 hours, 33 minutes
- Zverev’s ranking: No. 1 seed
- Shelton’s ranking: No. 8 seed
- Zverev’s Grand Slam titles: 2
- 2026 Grand Slam titles: French Open and US Open
- US Open prize money: $5.5 million
