Zverev beats Shelton to claim second major at US Open
Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in four sets, extending the wait for an American men’s Grand Slam singles champion to 2003.
Alexander Zverev has won the US Open men’s singles title, defeating American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 in the final.
The victory gives the German his second major championship after his French Open success earlier in 2026. It also completes a notable recovery at the tournament, where he lost the 2020 final after leading Dominic Thiem by two sets.
Shelton was contesting his first Grand Slam final and was seeking to become the first American man to win a major singles title since Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open triumph. Zverev’s victory extends that drought.
The No. 1 seed controlled the opening two sets before Shelton mounted a challenge by taking the third. Zverev responded in the fourth set to close out the match and improve his record against Shelton to six wins from six meetings.
Zverev also reached the Wimbledon final this year, where he lost to Jannik Sinner. He became the top seed in New York after Sinner withdrew with a knee injury, according to ESPN’s account of the tournament.
