Alexander Zverev has won his second Grand Slam title of the year, beating Ben Shelton 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-2 in the US Open final to cap a transformational season. The German top seed lifted the trophy at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the crowd’s hopes for a home champion were redirected toward his own achievement.
Zverev entered the year with doubts hanging over him. At 29, the question was whether he could ever win one of tennis’s biggest prizes. Now he has answered it twice, starting with his first major title at the French Open and following it up with this US Open triumph.
Shelton’s First Final
Shelton was aiming to become the first American man to win a major title since Andy Roddick in 2003. He lost serve in the first game of the match, setting the tone for Zverev to control the opening two sets.
Big-hitting Shelton has long been identified as a player who can win the most prestigious titles. But he ultimately came up short in his first Grand Slam final, facing a rejuvenated Zverev.
The Match Sets
- The first set was a straight-forward statement. Zverev took it 6-3, establishing his authority early.
- The second set went to a tie-break, which Zverev won 7-6 (7-2). That gave him a two-set lead and control of the match.
- The third set saw Shelton apply serious pressure on Zverev’s serve, taking his third break opportunity to provide encouragement to the 24,000 home fans.
- Zverev reasserted his authority early in the fourth set, winning it 6-2 to extinguish American dreams.
The Path Through Injuries
Zverev has taken full advantage of injuries to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Those two players swept the board between them at the majors in 2024 and 2025, leaving the field weakened.
| Player | Role | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sinner | Swept the board | Injured |
| Alcaraz | Swept the board | Injured |
| Zverev | Top seed | Second Grand Slam title |
Sinner and Alcaraz dominated the big prizes during that period. Zverev saw the path to glory partially cleared by their absences, and he seized it.
The Moment of Victory
Zverev did not immediately know he had secured victory when Shelton hit a return long on championship point. He only broke out into a broad and slightly surprised smile after his team pointed out the score to him.
The crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium had been hoping for a home champion. Instead, they got a German champion, and Zverev lifted the trophy to seal his second Grand Slam title.
What This Means For Zverev
Zverev is now a multiple Grand Slam singles champion. At the start of the season, there were question marks over whether he would ever win one of the sport’s biggest prizes.
He answered those questions in France, and he has answered them again in New York. The path through the injuries of Sinner and Alcaraz created opportunities, but the execution belonged to Zverev.
Shelton’s Talent
Shelton’s first final ended in disappointment, but the talent is there. Zverev’s performance in New York showed why he is considered one of the best in the game.
The trophy belongs to Zverev, and the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium had to accept that.
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