Alexander Zverev won his first US Open title on Sunday, September 13, 2026. In the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the German defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2, adding New York to the season in which he finally began winning tennis's biggest tournaments.
His serve underpinned the victory: Zverev won 68 of 80 points behind his first delivery, an 85% success rate. After taking control early in the match, he was equally sharp in the second-set tiebreak, winning the opening five points before closing it out 7-2.
Shelton fought back by breaking in the final game of the third set. The 7-5 scoreline revived the American crowd's hopes, but Zverev responded immediately. He broke in the opening game of the fourth, dropped just four points across his service games in that set and completed the victory with an unreturned serve.
At 29, Zverev now owns two Grand Slam singles titles, both won in 2026. His first came at Roland Garros. With appearances in the Wimbledon and US Open finals as well, the German finished this season's four majors with 25 wins and two defeats.
The result carries particular significance in New York. In the 2020 final, Zverev led Dominic Thiem by two sets before losing in five. This time, he protected his lead despite his opponent's comeback attempt. In his press conference, he credited his Paris title with changing his confidence when playing finals of this magnitude.
For 23-year-old Shelton, a first Grand Slam final concludes a run that included a five-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz in a match that ended at 3:33 a.m. in New York. The American remains winless against Zverev in six meetings. Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion, is still the last American man to win a major singles title.
