Alexander Zverev lastly bought his palms on the US Open trophy that when appeared destined to be his, overcoming American hope and his personal painful Grand Slam historical past to beat Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in Sunday’s closing at Flushing Meadows.Six years after blowing a two-set lead in opposition to Dominic Thiem within the 2020 US Open closing, Zverev accomplished one of many largest items of unfinished enterprise in his profession. The German, who grew to become a Grand Slam champion at Roland Garros earlier this 12 months, added a second main title in New York to cap a exceptional 2026 season.“I feel God has seen how exhausting we labored, how a lot we suffered, how a lot ache we went by way of and I feel 2026 is the end result of all of the years that occurred earlier than,” Zverev stated throughout the trophy presentation.The victory additionally ended a rare run of disappointment in Grand Slam finals for Zverev, who had beforehand reached the championship match on the US Open in 2020 and the French Open in 2024 earlier than lastly breaking by way of in Paris this 12 months.
Zverev silences partisan New York crowd
The house crowd had been determined to see Shelton finish a 23-year await an American man’s Grand Slam title. The eighth seed was trying to grow to be the primary American man to win a significant since Andy Roddick on the 2003 US Open and the primary Black American man to win the title since Arthur Ashe in 1968.However Zverev refused to be intimidated by the partisan environment.“I do know that immediately 99.9% of the individuals needed Ben to win so I am very sorry,” Zverev stated. “Though I do know that the group was in opposition to me, the group was at all times extremely honest and we as gamers we recognize it.”The German made the right begin, capitalising on Shelton’s nerves in his first Grand Slam closing. Shelton double-faulted on break level within the opening sport and Zverev held his benefit all through the set, closing it out when the American dedicated one other double fault.Zverev’s composure grew to become much more evident within the second set. With the group trying to raise Shelton and sometimes reacting loudly to Zverev’s errors, the highest seed remained targeted and raced by way of the tiebreak, taking a 5-0 lead earlier than closing it 7-2.
Shelton fights again however Zverev refuses to crack
Shelton, nevertheless, refused to give up.Zverev seemed on track for a straight-sets victory after saving a break level with a surprising backhand winner within the sixth sport of the third set. Shelton then slipped and crashed to the court docket, however the setback appeared to galvanise him.The American started discovering higher depth and energy from the baseline, ultimately breaking Zverev for the primary and solely time within the match. He held his nerve to take the third set 7-5 and ship the ultimate right into a fourth.However the comeback ended there.Zverev instantly broke Shelton’s serve in the beginning of the fourth set after which survived a 25-shot rally to strengthen his grip on the match. The German by no means relinquished the benefit, ultimately closing out the competition 6-2.In an virtually surreal second, Zverev initially didn’t realise he had gained. After Shelton despatched a return lengthy on match level, Zverev instinctively moved again in the direction of the baseline as if getting ready to obtain one other serve.Solely after the umpire introduced, “Recreation, set and match Zverev”, and the group rose to applaud, did the German realise the title was his. He smiled, raised his arms and headed to the online to embrace Shelton.
From 2020 heartbreak to 2026 glory
The triumph erased one of the crucial painful chapters of Zverev’s profession. In 2020, he led Thiem by two units and got here inside two factors of victory earlier than changing into the primary man since 1949 to lose a Grand Slam closing after taking the opening two units.This time, there was no collapse.Zverev has now gone 25-2 in Grand Slam matches in 2026, having gained the French Open, reached the Wimbledon closing and adopted that run by claiming his second main title in New York.He additionally collected a document $5.5 million winner’s prize, matching ladies’s champion Elena Rybakina’s payout from Saturday as the most important prize in Grand Slam historical past.Shelton, in the meantime, leaves New York with a breakthrough of his personal regardless of falling quick. He had surprised defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarter-final that ended at 3:33 a.m., however couldn’t full the last word upset.“You’re one of many perfect gamers on the planet, perhaps the very best participant on the planet this 12 months,” Shelton informed Zverev.For Zverev, there was no higher approach to reply the ghosts of 2020 than by lastly lifting the US Open trophy.“We went 30 years with out profitable a Slam title and now gained two within the span of three months,” he stated.