By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, September 13, 2026
Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty/USTA
NEW YORK—Scraping a tricky half volley, Ben Shelton was bouncing on his toes at net.
Stinging a pass right at the American’s throat, Alexander Zverev scored a knock down as Shelton blocked a self-preservation volley while crashing to his back.
That jarring exchange summed up this US Open final. Shelton tried asserting his aggression only to see Zverev pound punishing replies to knock the American hope out.
The top-seeded Zverev broke in the opening game and never looked back dismissing Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 to capture his maiden US Open championship—six years after suffering the most painful loss of his life on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
On championship point, Zverev slammed a 137 mph serve down the T to end it, only the German did not realize it was over.
Pausing as if preparing to play one more point, Zverev heard chair umpire Marijana Veljovic announced “Game, set match Zverev” and only then did he thrust his arms in the air in triumph and break into the wide grin.
“I think God has seen how hard we worked, how much we suffered and how much pain we went through and 2026 is the outcome,” Zverev told Arthur Ashe Stadium fans before hoisting the title trophy and accepting the $5.5 million champion’s check. “I was two points from losing in the first round and it would have been a different outcome.”
It is Zverev’s second career Grand Slam crown, coming three months after he out-dueled Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 In the Roland Garros final to finally reach the Grand Slam promised land on June 7th.
The 29-year-old Zverev is the second German US Open men’s champion after Boris Becker in 1989 and he’s the fourth man in Open Era history to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same season.
The left-handed Shelton, who electrified New York City edging defending-champion Carlos Alcaraz in an epic quarterfinal that ended at 3:33 a.m., was bidding to become the first American man since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open to win a Grand Slam singles title.
In his maiden major final, Shelton kept fighting, but had no solution for Zverev’s swarming serve and backhand strikes down the line.
“Sasha congrats on these two weeks man, your second Grand Slam title,” Shelton said after suffering his sixth loss in as many meetings to the powerful German. “You’re one of the very best players in the world—maybe the best player this year.
“What you’re doing is incredible the way you’re serving and moving. You work harder than anyone I know, you do things the right way and sincerely happy for you and your team to hold this title. It’s been a long time coming….
“I’m just getting started and I’ll be back here again.”
This title run is even sweeter for Zverev, who swept Shelton and silenced the 24,000 American fans crammed into Ashe Stadium. All this came six years after Zverev was two points from the 2020 US Open championship only to completely collapse and suffer a gut-wrenching loss to Dominic Thiem in that 2020 final.
Today, the son of tennis coaches muffled Shelton’s offense and muted the capacity fan base.
Before a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, including Hall of Famer Jimmy Connors, the only man to win the US Open title on three different surfaces, Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova, a backward baseball cap wearing Brad Pitt, Pierce Brosnan, Courtney Cox, Katie Holmes, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Shelton’s girlfriend, soccer star Trinity Rodman, who was there to witness his epic 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7) victory over defending-champion Carlos Alcaraz that ended at 3:33 a.m., was also in the box today.
Zverev, who grew up practicing against older brother and lefty serve-and-volleyer Mischa Zverev, took the court 44-1 in his last 45 matches versus left-handers. One reason for that dominance is his tremendous two-handed backhand, which he deployed immediately with a couple of crackling returns.
Today, Zverev took charge from the start raising his 2026 record to an ATP-best 53-13, including a superb 25-2 Grand Slam record.
A jittery Shelton jerked a forehand wide to face a break point then double faulted to cede the opening break.
The reigning Roland Garros issued a quick hold for 2-0 after seven minutes. Exhorted by the crowd, Shelton held at love to get on the scoreboard.
Twenty-two minutes into the match, Shelton slid into a full stretch stab volley winner to reach Love-30 on Zverev’s serve. The 2020 finalist threw down a 137 mph serve winner before slamming an ace out wide erasing pressure for a 4-2 lead.
Flat-lining a backhand into net to face a set point, Shelton spit up a double-fault book-ending the set by gifting breaks on double faults.
Born in Hamburg, Germany to Russian parents, Zverev, who spent his younger years training in Florida with older brother and co-coach Mischa Zverev, now resides in Monte Carlo. The six-time Slam finalist showed his all-court fluency navigating a two-deuce hold that spanned about seven minutes holding for a 4-3 second-set lead.
Though Shelton was in that game, Zverev had not faced a single break point 80 minutes into the match.
Across the net, Shelton found his first serve streaking through 11 points on serve to even it after eight games. Moving forward, Shelton slammed down a leaping smash for 5-All.
Framing a forehand, Shelton fell into Love-30 in the 12th game, but recovered to force the second set tie break.
Running right, Zverev spun a forehand pass down the line for the mini break and a 2-0 lead. Zipping another forehand down the line, Zverev came forward cranking a backhand down the line for a 3-0 lead.
Dropping a 147 mph bomb wide brought the big-serving German to 4-0.
Trying to rouse the home hero, Ashe fans were chanting “Let’s Go Ben! Let’s Go Ben!”
Muting that mini-uprising, Zverev drew a wild backhand miss for a fistful of set points at 6-2. Slamming a 139 serve winner down the T, Zverev snatched a strong two-set lead after one hour, 50 minutes.
How oppressive was Zverev’s serve through two sets?
Sometimes, Shelton was so handcuffed by the 130 mph blasts coming his way his returns actually bounced on his side of the court first. Still, Shelton stayed committed to the cause.
Dipping a couple of droppers, Shelton held at 15 for 6-5 third-set lead.
Ripping some fierce forehands, Shelton drew a floated forehand reply for triple set point in the 12th game.
On his second set point, Shelton hit a forehand down the line and though Zverev was in position for a high forehand volley, he badly bungled that stroke wide. Shelton finally broke after two hours, 49 minutes to snatch the third set, putting an index finger to his ear imploring the crowd to make even more noise after forcing a fourth set.
Two hours, 55 minutes into the match, Shelton scraped out a tricky half volley only to see Zverev blast a pass right at his throat. Shelton was knocked down as he blocked a self-preservation volley.
Though Shelton arose, Zverev smacked a forehand down the line breaking to start the final set. The top seed backed up the break for a 2-0 fourth-set lead.
The two-time Canadian Open champion reached 30-all on the German’s serve in the fourth game. The methodical Zverev, whose notorious ball-bouncing habit was growing greater, was hit with a time violation warning by chair umpire Marijana Veljovic.
After a brief objection, Zvereg went right back to work and spun a slick two-handed backhand winner crosscourt dodging the dilemma for 3-1.
Showing his net skills, Zverev made a series of rapid-fire volleys before Shelton looped a lob long. That sequence earned the German the double break and a 5-2 lead.
Zverev’s complicated relationship with the public stems from ugly abuse allegations by the mother of his daughter, Brenda Patea, who accused Zverev of strangling her.
A Berlin court issued a €450,000 penalty order against Zverev over abuse allegations that he caused bodily harm to Patea. Zverev, who has always adamantly denied the allegations, contested that €450,000 penalty order.
The case was set for trial, but on June 7, 2024 that scheduled trial was terminated as the former couple reached an out-of-court settlement. That settlement included agreeing to share joint custody for their daughter and Zverev agreeing to pay €200,000, including €150,000 to the German State Treasury and €50,000 to charitable organizations. Terms of the settlement did not include Zverev admitting any guilt in the case.
That settlement came after Zverev faced domestic assault allegations from another ex-partner, Olga Sharypova, who went public with her claims he violently assaulted her in their hotel room as she stepped out of the shower. Zverev repeatedly denied those allegations as well.
In January of 2023, the ATP announced after a 15-month investigation into allegations by Olga Sharypova that Zverev emotionally and physically abused her during their relationship, it found “insufficient evidence” to support the claims of abuse.
Throughout all of his off-court controversies, Zverev has steadfastly maintained his innocence. Now, he’s a two-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold-medal champion likely securing his spot in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
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