Alexander Zverev beats Ben Shelton to win U.S. Open, extending US men's drought

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Top seed Alexander Zverev of Germany captured the US Open title on Sunday, September 13, in New York. Zverev defeated American eighth seed Ben Shelton with a score of 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 to claim the men's singles trophy.

This victory marks Zverev's second Grand Slam title of 2026, following his first major win earlier this year at the French Open. By winning the crown, the German star banished bitter memories from the 2020 final where he let a golden opportunity slip through his fingers.

The loss denies the 23-year-old Shelton the chance to become the first American man to win a major since 2003. Despite the desperation of the home crowd to see the drought end, Shelton never found his top form in his first major final, extending the American men's Grand Slam drought into a 24th year.

Zverev's victory caps off an unpredictable tournament and 2026 Grand Slam season. While he celebrates his second major championship, some controversy still hangs over the German player.

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