Zverev Holds Off Shelton Surge To Win US Open And French-US Double
Alexander Zverev denies Ben Shelton As 23-year wait for US Men's grand slam champion goes on. Zverev wins US Open, completes redemption six years after flushing Meadows heartbreak.
Zverev outlasts Shelton in four sets to capture second Grand Slam at US Open...
Alexander Zverev overcame Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 to claim the US Open on Sunday, claiming his second Grand Slam and putting to rest the pain of a heartbreaking Flushing Meadows loss six years ago.
The world No.1, who was just two points from the title in 2020 before losing in five sets to Dominic Thiem, now has the US Open to go with the French Open he won earlier this year.
Zverev ended Shelton’s hopes of becoming the first American man to win a Grand Slam in 23 years.
The 23-year-old Shelton wasn’t even one when Roddick lifted the US Open trophy in 2003, the most recent major title for an American man.
Shelton came into the final with momentum after an epic five-set win over Alcaraz in the quarters and a fightback victory against Tiafoe in the last four, raising hopes he could end the American drought.
Despite the backing of a star-filled Arthur Ashe crowd desperate to see a home winner, Zverev’s all-round quality proved too much for Shelton.
Backed by the crowd, Shelton turned it around in the third set and cut out the mistakes that Zverev had been punishing.
Serving to stay in the set, Zverev went down 0-40. Shelton missed his first set point long, but converted the second when Zverev’s forehand volley went wide. That gave Shelton his first break and forced a fourth set.
The German responded instantly in the fourth. After a punishing 24-shot exchange, Shelton went long with a backhand and Zverev broke for an early lead.
Six years later, a different ending 🏆 pic.twitter.com/zVRxi608pm
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 13, 2026
Even with a break up, Zverev could feel the pressure from a battling Shelton and a hostile Arthur Ashe crowd.
At 30-30 in the fourth game he was given a time violation warning on serve, but he composed himself and sealed the game with a sharp crosscourt backhand to move 3-1 ahead.
He closed it out in style. When Shelton’s return flew long on match point, Zverev threw his arms up and got the roar from the crowd he’d been chasing all night.
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