Top seed Alexander Zverev defeated American eighth seed Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 on Sunday to win the US Open. This victory marks Zverev's first US Open title and his second Grand Slam championship of 2026, following his earlier win at the French Open.
The German star banished bitter memories from the 2020 final, where he let a golden opportunity slip. By remaining composed and zen-like, Zverev claimed the trophy six years after that heartbreaking defeat, capping off an unpredictable tournament and season.
The loss extends the Grand Slam drought for American men into a 24th year, as Shelton missed the chance to become the first American man to win a major since 2003. Shelton also fell short of becoming the first Black player to win the men's championship since Arthur Ashe in 1968.
Despite the victory, the home crowd in New York felt the disappointment of the defeat. During the trophy presentation, Zverev acknowledged the atmosphere, stating that he knew 99.9% of the people wanted Shelton to win and expressed his apologies.