On Sunday, Alexander Zverev secured the U.S. Open men’s singles title by defeating Ben Shelton in four sets. This marks Zverev’s second Grand Slam victory, following his earlier success at the French Open this year.

As the No. 1 seed for the first time in a Grand Slam, Zverev took advantage of Shelton’s uncertain start in his inaugural major final. He played a nearly impeccable tiebreaker on serve and overcame Shelton’s effort to rally, ending the match with scores of 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2. The crowd heavily supported Shelton, hoping to see an American win the tournament.

Shelton, after defeating fellow American Francis Tiafoe in a riveting semifinal, aimed to break the long-standing drought for American men’s tennis, which hasn’t seen a major victory since Andy Roddick’s U.S. Open win in 2003. Additionally, Shelton became the first Black American man to reach the U.S. Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.

Despite the pressure and expectations, Zverev demonstrated superior performance in major tournaments this year. Interestingly, after sealing the victory with his serve, Zverev momentarily forgot that he had won. He stepped back as if preparing to return a serve before realizing his triumph, leading to a jubilant celebration.

The victory unfolded at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, on September 13, 2026.