Alexander Zverev started 2026 with zero Grand Slam trophies to his name.
He’ll end it with two.
The German world No. 2 claimed the men’s singles title at the 2026 US Open on Sunday (13 September) in Queens, New York, surviving home hope Ben Shelton in four sets, 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in three hours and 33 minutes.
The Olympic tennis gold medallist from Tokyo 2020 in 2021, Zverev, 29, won his 26th career title, having captured his maiden major at the French Open in June.
It marked redemption for Zverev six years after he gave up a two-sets-to-love lead in the 2020 US Open final, falling to Dominic Thiem in five sets.
“We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title, and now we’ve won two in the span of three months,” a smiling Zverev said during the trophy presentation.
“2026 is the outcome of all the years that came before.”
The 23-year-old Shelton was aiming to snap a 23-year drought for American men at the majors: Andy Roddick is the last U.S. man to win a Grand Slam singles title, hoisting the US Open trophy in 2003.
The Florida native beat seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz in a dramatic five-set quarter-final earlier in the week, their 3:33am finish the latest in tournament history.
Shelton followed that up with a four-set triumph in the semi-final over compatriot Frances Tiafoe, making him the first Black American man into a US Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
Zverev was 5-0 head-to-head with Shelton coming into Sunday, winning 10 of 11 sets played. He was broken just once all day – at the end of the third set – and broke Shelton four times, including twice in the fourth set.
Zverev served out the title ultra-focused: As Shelton hit a return long of the baseline on championship point, Zverev didn’t realise he had captured the trophy. When he did, he raised him arms aloft, shouting up to the sky in jubilation.
“You’re one of the best players in the world… maybe the best in 2026,” Shelton told Zverev a few minutes later about his stand-out year.
The two embraced at the net, with Shelton’s first career Grand Slam final ending like Zverev’s did: In a loss at the US Open.
- US Open 2026: Ben Shelton pays tribute to late grandmother after reaching final
- US Open 2026: Elena Rybakina upends two-time reigning champ Aryna Sabalenka for title
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/us-open-2026-alexander-zverev-second-grand-slam-title-ben-shelton
