Alexander Zverev secured his first US Open title on Sunday in New York City, defeating American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 in the men’s singles final. The German, who was the top seed, overcame the emotional weight of a 2020 final loss to Austrian Dominic Thiem to capture his second Grand Slam of the year following his earlier victory at Roland Garros in June.

Zverev reflected on his journey during the trophy presentation, attributing his success to years of hard work and perseverance. “God has seen how hard we worked, how much we suffered, how much pain we went through and I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before,” he said. Despite facing a home crowd largely supporting Shelton, the eighth seed, Zverev maintained focus throughout the match.

Shelton, appearing in his first major final and aiming to end a 23-year American men’s Grand Slam drought, showed moments of promise, including a notable point in the sixth game of the first set. However, his performance was inconsistent and he struggled to maintain pressure against Zverev’s experience. At one point in the third set, Shelton fought back to force a fourth set after breaking Zverev’s serve, but the German regained control to close out the match.

The final featured moments of drama, including Shelton visibly frustrated after a fall on court, and Zverev’s intense concentration—so much so that he initially failed to realize he had won the title until the umpire’s announcement prompted the crowd’s standing ovation. Afterward, the two players embraced at the net in a sportsmanlike gesture.

Shelton, the first black American man to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe 54 years ago, received notable support from his girlfriend, US soccer international Trinity Rodman, who travelled overnight to attend the match. Despite the loss, Shelton acknowledged the opportunity to compete on such a stage as a significant milestone.

Zverev’s victory comes amid a challenging phase for the men’s tennis landscape. His triumph marks a shift after a period dominated by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who collectively won all eight Grand Slam titles between 2024 and 2025. Both players were absent from championship contention at the US Open this year: Alcaraz bowed out in the quarter-finals after returning from injury, while Sinner withdrew before the tournament due to injury.

Commenting on his current standing in the sport, Zverev suggested he is the top player “at this moment,” given the injuries sidelining key rivals. He acknowledged that, when fully fit, Sinner remains ahead in his estimation.

The $5.5 million winner’s prize—record-setting for the US Open—adds to Zverev’s growing stature, helping to rewrite the narrative of previous disappointments and personal challenges, including past allegations of domestic violence that he has consistently denied. His performance on Sunday demonstrated his resilience and capacity to perform on one of tennis’s biggest stages.