By Dwayne Ferreira.
Alexander Zverev defeats Ben Shelton in four sets to win the 2026 US Open, claiming his first New York crown and second Grand Slam title.
Alexander Zverev completed one of the most significant chapters of his career by defeating American Ben Shelton in four sets to capture his first US Open men’s singles title at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
The German top seed prevailed 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 on Sunday, September 13, securing his second Grand Slam championship of an extraordinary 2026 season.
Six years after suffering one of the most painful defeats of his career in the 2020 US Open final, Zverev finally returned to the biggest stage in New York and finished the job.
Zverev Takes Control in New York
Facing an energetic Shelton backed by a partisan American crowd, Zverev imposed himself early with his powerful serve, deep groundstrokes and trademark backhand.
He secured the opening set 6-3 before a tighter second set went to a tiebreak.
There, Zverev raised his level again, dominating the breaker 7-2 to move within one set of the championship.
Shelton, appearing in his first Grand Slam final, refused to surrender.
The 23-year-old American fought back in the third set, taking it 7-5 and keeping alive hopes of producing a memorable comeback on home soil.
However, Zverev responded like a champion.
The German quickly regained control in the fourth set, breaking Shelton’s resistance and racing towards a 6-2 victory to seal the title.
Redemption Six Years After 2020 Heartbreak
The victory carries particular significance for Zverev because of what happened on the same court six years earlier.
In the 2020 US Open final, Zverev led Dominic Thiem by two sets before eventually losing in five sets.
That defeat became one of the defining near-misses of his career as he continued searching for an elusive Grand Slam title.
But 2026 has transformed that narrative.
Zverev finally became a major champion at Roland Garros earlier this year and has now added the US Open trophy to his collection.
His victory in New York means he finishes the American Grand Slam with two major championships in the same season.
Shelton’s Historic Run Ends in Final
For Shelton, defeat brought an end to an impressive tournament that confirmed his position among the leading players of the new generation.
The eighth seed had thrilled the home crowd throughout the fortnight, including a dramatic five-set quarterfinal victory over Carlos Alcaraz before beating fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals.
He entered Sunday’s championship match attempting to end a 23-year wait for an American men’s Grand Slam singles champion.
Andy Roddick remains the last American man to lift a major singles trophy after winning the US Open in 2003.
Shelton’s defeat means that wait will continue.
Zverev Caps Remarkable Grand Slam Season
Zverev’s US Open triumph completes a remarkable year at the majors.
After years of coming close to Grand Slam glory, the 29-year-old has turned 2026 into the season in which he established himself as a multiple major champion.
He won Roland Garros, reached the Wimbledon final and then arrived in New York as the top seed.
His route through the US Open was far from straightforward. Zverev survived gruelling five-set encounters during the opening rounds before becoming increasingly dominant as the tournament progressed.
He defeated Karen Khachanov in straight sets in the semifinals to reach his second US Open final before overcoming Shelton in Sunday’s championship match.
This time, unlike the heartbreaking night of 2020, there would be no dramatic collapse.
Six years after leaving Arthur Ashe Stadium wondering whether his opportunity had slipped away, Alexander Zverev returned to New York and walked away as the 2026 US Open champion.
