Alexander Zverev has won the US Open for the first time, defeating American Ben Shelton in four sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The German top seed prevailed 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 to claim his second Grand Slam title of 2026.
The victory gives Zverev a landmark success at the tournament six years after he let a two-set advantage slip in the 2020 final against Dominic Thiem. It also prevents Shelton from becoming the first American man to win the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2003.
Zverev completes a breakthrough in New York
Zverev entered the final as the No. 1 seed after world No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew with a knee injury. He took control early against Shelton, who was competing in his first major final, and established a two-set lead.
The German remained composed during a tense second-set tiebreak, winning it 7-2. Shelton responded by taking the third set 7-5, raising hopes among a strongly supportive New York crowd, but Zverev regained control in the fourth.
He eventually secured the championship with a 6-2 final set. The moment initially appeared to surprise him: after hitting a winning serve, Zverev moved behind the baseline as though preparing to receive. He later explained that he had mistakenly thought the score was 5-1.
A second major title in a remarkable 2026
The US Open triumph follows Zverev’s French Open victory earlier in the year. He also reached the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Jannik Sinner.
His record in Grand Slam matches this year now stands at 25-2. The result confirms Zverev as one of the defining players of the 2026 season and marks the completion of a long journey back from his painful defeat in New York in 2020.
In that earlier final, Zverev led Thiem by two sets and came within two points of victory before losing. The defeat made him the first man since 1949 to surrender a two-set lead in a US Open final. His latest result removes that disappointment from the centre of his Grand Slam story.
Key facts from the final
- Champion: Alexander Zverev of Germany
- Runner-up: Ben Shelton of the United States
- Score: 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2
- Venue: Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York
- Zverev’s 2026 major record: 25 wins and two defeats
- Prize money: $5.5 million
Shelton’s historic opportunity ends in defeat
Shelton was seeking more than a first Grand Slam trophy. A victory would have made him the first American man to win the US Open since Roddick’s 2003 success and the first Black player to claim the men’s championship since Arthur Ashe in 1968.
Although he could not complete that breakthrough, Shelton described the occasion as a unique experience. His run to the final nonetheless represented a major step in his career, particularly after facing the tournament’s top seed in front of a crowd largely behind him.
Zverev acknowledged the atmosphere during the trophy ceremony, saying that the support for Shelton was overwhelming but fair. He also admitted that the crowd’s energy made the contest especially demanding.
What the result means for men’s tennis
Zverev’s win adds another major title to a season shaped by opportunities at the top of the men’s game. Sinner’s withdrawal affected the seeding, while Carlos Alcaraz missed two Grand Slam tournaments. Zverev capitalised on those openings and delivered when the pressure was greatest.
The victory also strengthens Germany’s presence in modern men’s tennis and gives Zverev a second Grand Slam crown after years of near misses. His success at the French Open and US Open shows a significant improvement in converting deep tournament runs into major titles.
For Shelton, the final provides experience that could prove important in future Grand Slam campaigns. His aggressive game and powerful serve carried him to the championship match, but Zverev’s consistency and control in the opening and closing sets proved decisive.
Prize money and season record
Zverev earned $5.5 million for winning the tournament, matching the amount awarded to women’s champion Elena Rybakina. That figure represents the largest prize reported for a Grand Slam champion.
With the US Open now added to his French Open title, Zverev closes the tournament as the leading major performer of the year by match record. His achievement in New York also demonstrates how decisively he has moved beyond the disappointment of his 2020 final.
Conclusion
Alexander Zverev’s US Open victory is both a major 2026 tennis result and a personal breakthrough. By overcoming Ben Shelton in four sets, he secured his second Grand Slam title, extended an outstanding season and finally claimed the New York championship that escaped him in 2020. The result leaves Zverev at the centre of the men’s game as the season’s major tournaments conclude.
