Alexander Zverev secured his second Grand Slam title of the year by defeating American Ben Shelton in a four-set final at the US Open Sunday. The top-seeded German won 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 in a match that lasted nearly three hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

Shelton, appearing in his first Grand Slam final, showed resilience by breaking Zverev’s serve late in the third set to force a fourth. However, he quickly lost his own serve at the start of the fourth set, allowing Zverev to regain control and close out the victory. Despite Shelton’s determined effort, Zverev’s superior serving and consistent baseline play ultimately proved decisive.

Zverev began the year without a major title but has emerged as one of the standout players of the season. He became only the fourth man in the Open Era—joining Jimmy Connors, Guillermo Vilas, and Jannik Sinner—to win his first two Grand Slam titles within the same calendar year. By defeating Shelton, Zverev also prevented the American from becoming the first Black American man to win the US Open since Arthur Ashe in 1968, and the first American man to claim the title since Andy Roddick in 2003.

The match further reinforced Zverev’s dominance over Shelton, extending his undefeated head-to-head record against the American to 6-0. Zverev’s serving was a key factor, landing 69% of first serves and winning 85% of those points, while Shelton struggled with consistency under pressure. Shelton double-faulted on crucial points in the opening set, which allowed Zverev to secure early breaks and set the tone.

The second set was tightly contested, with Shelton managing to push the top seed to a tiebreak. Yet, Zverev quickly gained a commanding lead in the breaker with aggressive shot-making, including several passing shots, and closed out the set comfortably. Shelton’s forehand was inconsistent throughout, while Zverev’s two-handed backhand continued to neutralize the left-hander’s attacks.

This title caps a stark contrast in the ATP season, which has been marked by injuries to leading players such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. With their absences, numerous contenders have emerged, but few have maintained the level of consistency Zverev demonstrated in reaching three Grand Slam finals this year.

Off the court, Zverev’s career remains clouded by allegations of abuse made by two former partners, Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea. He settled a legal case in Germany related to assault accusations made by Patea in 2024, though no verdict was issued. Zverev has denied all allegations and continues to compete without disruption at major tournaments.

For Shelton, the season marks a significant breakthrough, highlighted by his appearance in the US Open final and a career-high ranking of No. 4. The 23-year-old’s rise included a second Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open during the summer. Nevertheless, Sunday’s match exposed some areas for improvement, particularly his return game and baseline consistency, where Zverev’s experience ultimately prevailed.