Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in four sets to claim his second Grand Slam title of the season, ending the American’s hopes of winning a first major on home soil. The German prevailed 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 6-2 in a final that ultimately rewarded his patience and consistency.
The victory also moves Zverev ahead of Jannik Sinner in the ATP Race to Turin. The German has emerged as the leading challenger to the dominance of Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz after taking advantage of both players’ absence from the US Open final.
For Shelton, the defeat brought an end to an extraordinary run in New York. The 22-year-old American had reached his first Grand Slam final after beating Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals and Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals.
Shelton runs out of energy
Shelton arrived at the final carrying the physical and mental burden of two demanding matches. His five-set battle with Alcaraz finished in the early hours of the morning, while the semi-final against close friend Tiafoe added another demanding test.
Against Zverev, the American was unable to reproduce the explosive tennis that had carried him through the tournament. His powerful left-handed serve remained a major weapon, but his overall game became increasingly erratic.
The pressure of playing in his first Grand Slam final appeared to weigh heavily on Shelton. Unforced errors multiplied, particularly from his forehand, while his tendency to retreat behind the baseline allowed Zverev to take control of rallies.
Zverev, by contrast, had little reason to take unnecessary risks.
Zverev stays patient
The second-ranked player in the world relied on his serve, played with discipline and waited for opportunities rather than trying to force the pace. He did not allow Shelton to create easy chances and remained composed as the match developed.
The second-set tie-break proved particularly costly for Shelton. With the home crowd behind him, the American had a chance to swing the momentum back in his favour, but Zverev dominated the crucial points and moved two sets ahead.
Shelton finally found a response in the third set, producing a late surge to take it 7-6. But Zverev immediately restored his authority in the fourth, breaking away to win 6-2 and close out the match.
The German’s ability to remain calm while Shelton’s level fluctuated ultimately proved decisive.
A second major of the season
The triumph marks another major milestone in Zverev’s career. At 29, he has now won two Grand Slam titles in the same season and strengthened his position as one of the few players capable of challenging the era dominated by Sinner and Alcaraz.
His first major breakthrough came after years of near misses, including his defeat to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final, when Zverev surrendered a two-set lead.
Six years later, he has finally completed the job in New York.
Zverev also moves ahead of Sinner in the Race to Turin, although the Italian remains ahead in the ATP rankings.
The German’s latest success underlines a defining characteristic of his career: patience. He has waited for his opportunity while Sinner and Alcaraz have established themselves as the sport’s leading young stars.
At the US Open, with the American crowd hoping to celebrate a new homegrown champion, it was Zverev who once again proved that consistency and composure can still overcome the game’s most explosive young talents.
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