Alexander Zverev of Germany claimed the US Open title on Sunday, defeating American Ben Shelton in four sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. The 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 victory gave Zverev his second Grand Slam trophy and his first in Flushing Meadows, six years after he squandered a two-set lead in the 2020 final against Dominic Thiem.
Zverev, the top seed, entered the match as the clear favourite, having reached the Wimbledon final earlier this year and compiled a 25-2 record in Grand Slam matches in 2025. Shelton, playing in his first major final, was attempting to become the first American man to win the title since Andy Roddick in 2003 and the first Black player to do so since Arthur Ashe in 1968.
The German, however, was unfazed by the pro-Shelton crowd. He broke early, dominated the second-set tiebreaker, and recovered after losing the third set to close out the match in the fourth. Zverev later admitted he was so focused that he did not realise he had won until his team rushed the court.
“In that moment I was in the zone, a lot,” Zverev said. “I didn’t hear noise at all. I was in this kind of tunnel where I just didn’t hear anything.”
The victory was a redemption for Zverev, who had led Thiem by two sets in the 2020 final before losing in five. That defeat haunted him for years, but he has since established himself as one of the most consistent performers on the tour. His win in New York extends his streak of reaching at least the semifinals in every major this year, and he has now won 25 of his 27 matches at the Slams in 2025.
Shelton, who had eliminated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal that ended at 3:33 a.m., the latest finish in US Open history, could not replicate that magic in the final. He fought back to take the third set, but Zverev’s serve and composure proved too much.
“It’s such a cool moment. Walking out on that court today, there’s nothing like it. I’ve never felt anything like that before,” Shelton said. He also praised Zverev: “You’re one of the very best players in the world, maybe the best player in the world this year.”
Zverev’s triumph also carries a European dimension, as he becomes the first German man to win a Grand Slam since Boris Becker’s Wimbledon victory in 1996. His success comes at a time when German tennis is enjoying a resurgence, with several young players breaking into the top 100. The win also underscores the depth of European men’s tennis, which has produced the last 15 Grand Slam champions.
For Zverev, the title is the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance. “I think God has seen how hard we worked, how much we suffered, and how much pain we went through, and I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before,” he said, addressing his team.
The US Open final was not the only European headline in tennis this weekend. Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan won the women’s title on Saturday, and both champions earned $5.5 million, the largest prize in Grand Slam history. Zverev’s victory also comes amid broader discussions about the future of German sport, as the country grapples with challenges in other areas, such as defence procurement and industrial competitiveness.
With this win, Zverev has cemented his place among the elite of men’s tennis, and he will head into 2026 as the world No. 1, a position he has never held before. His next challenge will be to maintain his dominance on the tour, with the Australian Open just months away.
