Alexander Zverev Beats Ben Shelton to Win 2026 US Open

Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 in the 2026 US Open men’s singles final, securing his first title at the tournament and his second Grand Slam championship.

The top seed’s victory ended with an unusual moment: Shelton’s return on match point sailed beyond the baseline, but Zverev initially did not realise the match was over. A section of German supporters alerted him to the result, and he raised his arms with a broad smile to celebrate his maiden US Open triumph.

The win carries particular significance for Zverev after the painful way his previous New York title opportunity ended in 2020. Having also won this year’s French Open, the German added the US Open trophy to complete a major breakthrough season.

Zverev holds off Shelton in four-set US Open final

Zverev made a fast start against Shelton, who was playing in his first major final. The No. 1 seed capitalised on Shelton’s shaky opening to take the first set 6-3.

The second set was decided in a tiebreaker, with Zverev described as nearly flawless on serve as he moved into a two-set lead. Shelton responded in the third set, taking it 7-5 to keep the final alive and fuel a comeback attempt.

But Zverev regained control in the fourth set. He closed out a 6-2 set to finish the match 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 and earn the title in New York.

The final was played in front of a crowd strongly backing Shelton, who was seeking to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since 2003. Shelton’s girlfriend, Trinity Rodman, was among those watching after making it from her own soccer match in Washington before the finish.

Zverev acknowledged the crowd’s preference during the trophy presentation, while praising the response from the stands. “I know today 99.9% of the people wanted Ben to win, so I’m very sorry first of all,” Zverev said. “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.”

A second major title caps Zverev’s 2026 run

The US Open title is Zverev’s second major championship of 2026, following his French Open win. He also reached the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Jannik Sinner.

Zverev entered the US Open as the No. 1 seed at a Grand Slam for the first time. He took that position after top-ranked Sinner withdrew from the tournament with a knee injury. The 2026 season also saw Carlos Alcaraz miss two majors and Sinner miss another, after Alcaraz and Sinner had contested three consecutive Grand Slam finals in 2025.

For Zverev, the result in New York represented the conversion of an opportunity that had eluded him six years earlier. His delayed reaction to the final point quickly became a memorable image from the championship match, before the realisation of what he had achieved set in.

Addressing his team after the victory, Zverev reflected on the work behind his 2026 results. “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,” he said.

With the French Open and US Open titles now part of his season, Zverev leaves New York with another major trophy and a defining win over Shelton in the final.