Alexander Zverev beat Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 in New York on Sunday, September 13, to win his first US Open title. The official tournament report and Reuters confirmed the German top seed's victory, which gave him a second Grand Slam singles crown, both earned in 2026.
Zverev, 29, had already won this year's French Open. The New York triumph came six years after his defeat by Dominic Thiem in the 2020 final, AP and EFE reported. For Shelton, the final offered a chance to become the first American man to win a major singles title since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open.
According to EFE, Shelton lost his opening service game with a double fault, and another double fault handed Zverev the first set. Both players held serve throughout the second set before the German won the tiebreak 7-2. Shelton then took the third set 7-5 to keep his title challenge alive.
Zverev regained control in the fourth set and completed the match in three hours and 33 minutes, EFE reported. AP said he stayed focused despite the crowd's strong support for Shelton. The German later explained that his concentration was so intense he did not immediately realize he had won after the final point.
Shelton, 23, was playing his first Grand Slam final. The US Open's earlier reports documented his five-set quarterfinal win over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and his four-set semifinal victory against Frances Tiafoe. Sunday's defeat left the American men's wait for another major singles champion continuing beyond 23 years.
The result also shapes the closing months of the season. EFE reported that Zverev moved ahead of Jannik Sinner in the season's points race toward the ATP Finals in Turin, while remaining second in the overall world rankings. Shelton leaves New York at a career-best fourth, according to the agency.
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