Alexander Zverev defeats Ben Shelton in four sets to win 2026 US Open title

Final progression and match point confusion

Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open final at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, September 13, 2026. The 29-year-old German sealed the victory in three hours and 33 minutes before 23,000 spectators. Shelton, a 23-year-old left-hander from Atlanta playing in his first Grand Slam final, opened the match with a double fault to concede an immediate break of serve and later double-faulted to concede the opening set. Zverev controlled the second-set tie-break 7-2, winning over 90% of his first-serve points during that period. Shelton earned his first break point of the match after two hours and 18 minutes, taking the third set 7-5 as Zverev showed physical fatigue. Zverev regained control with an early break in the fourth set. After hitting his final unreturned serve on match point, Zverev turned around and tossed a ball, unaware for four to five seconds that the match had concluded until he looked at the stadium video screens. He embraced Shelton at the net and apologized for his reaction.

You are the best tennis player this year.

Second Grand Slam title of 2026

The victory earned Zverev his second Grand Slam title of the season, following his win at Roland Garros. The German stands as the only male player to win two Grand Slam tournaments in 2026, with Carlos Alcaraz having won the Australian Open and Jannik Sinner claiming Wimbledon. Zverev reached the final after a draw in which the highest-ranked opponent he faced was world No. 21 Luciano Darderi, with potential rivals Felix Auger-Aliassime, Flavio Cobolli and Lorenzo Musetti exiting early. The tournament also took place without Sinner due to injury, while defending champion Alcaraz competed following a four-and-a-half-month layoff caused by a wrist injury.

American drought and Shelton's ranking climb

Shelton reached the final after defeating Tallon Griekspoor, Hubert Hurkacz, Denis Shapovalov, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals, and Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals. The defeat extends the American men's Grand Slam title drought to 23 years, with Andy Roddick remaining the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title after his 2003 US Open win over Juan Carlos Ferrero. Roddick previously reflected on the recurring public attention given to the gap.

I hate talking about it. I hate that the players have to talk about it. I hate that John McEnroe has to talk about it. He asks me all the time, as if I enjoy it. I don't pop champagne every time another season ends. There is probably no one who wants this streak to end more than I do.

Following his run in New York, Shelton rises to world No. 4 in the ATP rankings.