Alexander Zverev Wins U.S. Open Men’s Singles Title

Alexander Zverev triumphed over Ben Shelton in the U.S. Open men’s singles final, taking home his second Grand Slam title. This victory followed his win at the French Open earlier in the year.

For the first time as the No. 1 seed in a Grand Slam event, Zverev leveraged Shelton’s nervous start in his major final debut. Zverev executed a nearly perfect tiebreaker on serve and resisted Shelton’s attempt to stage a comeback, securing victory with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2.

The match took place in front of a supportive crowd rooting for Shelton, who had previously defeated fellow American Francis Tiafoe in an exhilarating semifinal. Shelton aspired to be the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick’s U.S. Open success in 2003. He also made history as the first Black American man to reach a U.S. Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.

Despite Shelton’s efforts, Zverev demonstrated exceptional skill throughout the major tournaments this year. In a moment of apparent disbelief, Zverev seemed unaware he had won after finishing the match on his serve. He initially remained behind the baseline, ready to return before realizing his victory and celebrating with raised arms.

The match was played at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, on September 13, 2026.