Zverev Claims Second Grand Slam Title with US Open Victory Over Shelton

Alexander Zverev has claimed his second grand slam title of 2026, defeating American Ben Shelton in four sets to win the US Open in New York. Zverev, who secured his first major crown at this year's French Open, won the match 6-3, 7-6(7/2), 5-7, 6-2 in three hours and 33 minutes.

However, Zverev didn't even realise he had won in the moment. After serving an unreturnable serve at 40-15 in the eighth game of the fourth and final set, the German turned to prepare to return, before realising what had happened when he looked up at the big screen.

"I thought it was 5-1, which helped me. I probably would've served like three double faults instead of one," he said.

When it eventually clicked for the 29-year-old, he exclaimed, "I've won?" with a smile, and rushed to the net to commiserate with first-time finalist Shelton before the celebrations began.

"We went 30 years without winning a grand slam title and now we've won two in the span of three months," Zverev said.

Zverev expressed his confidence that 23-year-old Shelton would lift the trophy one day, stating he would "bet all [his] money" on it, but it was not to be this day.

Both teams have strong family connections in their coaches' box, with Shelton coached by his father Bryan, and his mother and sister also among his supporters in the stands.

"It's exactly what my family is and that's why I'm so happy to see you guys in these kinds of finals," Zverev said.

During the match, Zverev noticed US football star Trinity Rodman, Shelton's girlfriend, who rushed from her Washington Spirit's 3-0 loss to Boston in DC to see the end of the match. Zverev described her as Shelton's "lucky charm", to which she replied: "Clearly not."

The world number two also took time to thank former Australian Open director Craig Tiley after his first US Open as United States Tennis Association boss.

"He decided to move to New York, which we as players were not very happy about because he made the Australian Open the best tournament in the world," he said. "But from now on I think the US Open will probably be the best tournament in the world since you're here. Thank you for moving here, thank you for being here, [but] move back to Australia for like three months and come back at the end of January. That would be great."

Playing his sixth major final and second in New York, Zverev looked composed as he took the opening set 6-3 in just 40 minutes on the back of a 94 per cent win rate on first serves.

Zverev lost from two sets up in the 2020 US Open final, but there would have been no complacency this time, as he dominated the tiebreak in the second set, jumping out to a 5-0 lead before taking it 7-2.

Shelton showed his fighting spirit to claim the third with his only service break and extend the match, but he was quickly broken to start the fourth set and Zverev raced to a 5-2 lead with a second break, setting up his victorious moment that clearly came earlier than he expected.