Alexander Zverev maintained the United States' lengthy wait for a men's Grand Slam champion by defeating Ben Shelton in the US Open final on September 10, 2023, with a score of 6-3, 7-6[7-2], 5-7, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. This victory marks Zverev's second Grand Slam title of the season, having previously won the French Open and reached the finals at Wimbledon.

Andy Roddick remains the last American man to clinch a major title in singles, achieving this feat back in 2003. Shelton's appearance in the final made him only the second American man since Roddick to reach this stage.

Zverev demonstrated his experience and precision throughout the match, facing only one break point until Shelton's breakthrough in the final game of the third set. The decisive fourth set saw Zverev break Shelton's serve early, capitalizing on a 24-point rally and eventually securing the title with impeccable serving.

Key highlights include:

• Zverev's 6-0 career record against Shelton.
• Zverev's dominance in mid-range rallies, showcasing his expansive skill set.
• Shelton's historical achievement as the first Black American man in the US Open finals since Arthur Ashe in 1972.

Despite the pressure, Shelton fought back to win the third set, making it a challenging match. However, nerves affected him early on, leading to 11 unforced errors in the first set alone.

Shelton expressed frustration over Zverev's lengthy pre-serve rituals, which he found distracting. Despite his efforts and a strong finish in the tiebreak of the second set, Zverev's experience shone through, ultimately leading to his victory and continuing the American men's Grand Slam drought.