Alexander Zverev stunned the tennis world by failing to realize he had just won the US Open, marking him as a two-time grand slam champion. In a peculiar twist during the final against Ben Shelton, Zverev lost track of the score when Shelton hit a return long on Championship point, leading him to believe the match was still ongoing.

As the 29-year-old prepared to receive serve, he mistakenly thought there was another game to play. It wasn't until he glanced at the scoreboard and the upper deck of Arthur Ashe Stadium that he comprehended he was the champion. Instead of a typical celebration, Zverev belatedly smiled, explaining, "I thought it was 5-1!" He credited his momentary lapse with helping him stay focused, stating, "Tennis teachers always tell you just play each point, to forget about the score. From that moment I forgot about the score, it helped me."

Zverev's victory not only secured him $5.5 million in prize money but also served as redemption from his heartbreaking loss in the 2020 US Open final. In a thrilling match, Zverev emerged victorious with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2, successfully repelling Shelton’s late comeback attempt after the young American broke him late in the third set.

This season has been Zverev’s finest, having also clinched his first grand slam title at the French Open in June and reaching the Wimbledon final in July. He now stands as the fourth man in the Open era to win his first two grand slam titles in the same year, setting his sights on the year-end world No 1 ranking.

Despite facing a challenging crowd and jeers for his slow service pace, Zverev managed to maintain his composure, even receiving a time violation in the fourth set. His pre-serve rituals had sparked discussions, especially after complaints from his semi-final opponent about his service timing.