As he approached the baseline, Alexander Zverev faced a pivotal moment reminiscent of his past heartbreak at the US Open. Six years earlier, he had squandered a two-set lead in a crushing defeat to Dominic Thiem. This time, however, the stakes were different; it was not his nerves but Ben Shelton and the electric crowd of 24,000 that posed a challenge.

Now a Grand Slam champion after clinching the French Open in June, Zverev displayed remarkable focus during the match, ultimately sealing a 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 victory. In a moment of pure concentration, he initially did not realize he had won until his team informed him.

In that moment I was in the zone a lot. I didn't hear noise at all,

Zverev expressed gratitude for the support of his family, especially his father, Alexander senior, who was present this time. He also acknowledged his mother's unwavering belief in him despite his type 1 diabetes diagnosis as a child, stating, "My mother is the most important and strongest person I know."

The world number two has had an outstanding year, reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open and the final at Wimbledon, alongside his recent victories. His success has been attributed to a combination of injuries to rivals like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, as well as his enhanced mental fortitude and fitness.

Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli praised Zverev's athleticism, highlighting him among the best in tennis history. Despite facing tough matches, Zverev maintained composure against Shelton, never losing control of the match and ultimately prevailing.

Former British number one Annabel Croft commended Zverev's remarkable strength of character, noting the surreal moment when he did not initially realize he had won the match, describing it as trance-like performance.