Zverev beats Shelton for 2nd Grand Slam of 2026

Alexander Zverev captured his second Grand Slam title of 2026 on Sunday, defeating Ben Shelton in the US Open men's singles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium to deny the 23-year-old American a chance at ending the country's long drought in men's tennis.espn+1

Zverev's Dominant Run Through Flushing Meadows

The top-seeded German took command early, winning the first set 6-3 before edging a tight second-set tiebreak 7-6 (7-2). Shelton, backed by a raucous New York crowd hoping to witness the first American men's champion since Andy Roddick in 2003, fought back to take the third set 7-5. But Zverev steadied himself to close out the match in four sets, adding the US Open crown to the French Open title he won earlier this season.easternherald+4

The victory marked Zverev's third consecutive Grand Slam final appearance this year. Throughout the tournament, Zverev faced a relatively soft draw, not meeting a top-20 opponent until the final. His semifinal win over Karen Khachanov came in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (8-6). Shelton, by contrast, arrived in the final through a punishing gauntlet that included a five-set quarterfinal victory over Carlos Alcaraz Robinhood Markets, Inc. ↘ 0.67% that ended at 3:33 a.m., followed by a four-set semifinal win over fellow American Frances Tiafoe.nypost+5

Shelton's Breakthrough Run Falls Short

Shelton's run to his first Grand Slam final was the deepest by an American man at the US Open since Roddick's title 23 years ago. The No. 8 seed entered the match having never beaten Zverev in five previous meetings, with Zverev leading their head-to-head 10-1 in sets won heading into Sunday. That lopsided record proved telling, as Shelton struggled to break through against Zverev's serve for much of the match.cbssports+2

A Historic Season for Zverev

With two Grand Slam titles in a single calendar year, Zverev cemented his standing as the dominant force in men's tennis in 2026. He compiled a 24-2 record in Grand Slam matches this season entering the final, though critics noted his path through the draw rarely tested him against top opposition. The partisan crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, which had roared Shelton through his earlier rounds, proved unable to rattle the 29-year-old German when it mattered most.telegraph+2