Alexander Zverev showcased his experience by defeating home favorite Ben Shelton in the US Open final, silencing a crowd eager for an American champion. Zverev, the top seed from Germany, secured a 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 victory, adding to his first major title won at this year's French Open.

At the start of the 2026 season, doubts loomed over the 29-year-old Zverev's ability to clinch a Grand Slam title. Now, he celebrates his status as a multiple Grand Slam singles champion, having capitalized on the absence of rivals Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz due to injuries.

Key Highlights:

• Shelton, the eighth seed, aimed to become the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick in 2003.
• The match began with Zverev breaking Shelton's serve in the first game, setting a dominant tone for the initial sets.
• In the third set, Shelton found his rhythm, finally breaking Zverev's serve and energizing the 24,000 fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
• However, Zverev quickly regained control in the fourth set, ultimately sealing his victory.

Interestingly, Zverev initially did not realize he had won until his team pointed out the championship point after Shelton hit a return long, leading to a surprised smile from the German star.