Zverev completes US Open turnaround with second Grand Slam title of 2026
Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in four sets to claim his first US Open title, six years after losing the final at Flushing Meadows.
Alexander Zverev has won the 2026 US Open men’s singles title, defeating American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 in New York.
The victory gives the world number two his second Grand Slam title of the year, following his French Open success in June. It also marks his first US Open championship, after he surrendered a two-set lead in the 2020 final against Dominic Thiem.
Zverev held his composure against Shelton and a partisan crowd, recovering from the loss of the third set without relinquishing control. His first serve was particularly effective, with 39 wins from 42 first-serve points across the opening two sets, according to BBC Sport.
The 29-year-old was so focused after the final point that he initially returned to the baseline, apparently ready to play on, before his team told him the match had ended.
Shelton was contesting his first Grand Slam final. Zverev is the second German man to win the US Open in the Open era, following Boris Becker.
The title caps a strong season in which Zverev has also reached the Australian Open semi-finals and Wimbledon final. He now trails Jannik Sinner by 1,810 ranking points, with two Masters 1000 events and the ATP Finals remaining.
