NEW YORK : Top seed Alexander Zverev defeated American Ben Shelton 6-3 7-6(2) 5-7 6-2 in the U.S. Open final on Sunday to win his second Grand Slam title, six years after losing a two-set lead in the same tournament’s final.
Zverev had surrendered a two-set advantage against Austria’s Dominic Thiem in the 2020 final, but completed his return to the U.S. Open title match with victory over eighth seed Shelton.
“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 during the presentation ceremony.
Shelton was seeking to become the first American man in 23 years to win a Grand Slam singles title, but the 22-year-old was unable to convert the opportunity in his first major final.
“I know that today 99.9% of the people wanted Ben to win so I’m very sorry,” Zverev said. “Even though I know that the crowd was against me, the crowd was always incredibly fair and we as players we appreciate it.”
Zverev took the first two sets before Shelton won the third to extend the match. The German then regained control in the fourth set to secure the title.
Zverev was so focused on the final point that he initially did not realise the match had ended when Shelton’s service return landed long.
After the umpire announced the result, Zverev returned towards the baseline before realising he had won. He then went to the net to embrace Shelton as the crowd applauded.
The victory earned Zverev a $5.5 million winner’s prize and added the U.S. Open title to his French Open triumph at Roland Garros in June.
Zverev’s victory ended Shelton’s bid to bring an end to the 23-year wait for an American men’s Grand Slam singles champion and completed a second major title for the German.
