17 years later, Del Potro remains the last non-European Grand Slam winner
For more than fifteen years, men's Grand Slam tennis tournaments have seen a dominance from European champions. The last non-European victory was by Juan Martin del Potro in the 2009 US Open. With legends like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic setting the standard, the trend continues with promising players such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner carrying the European torch forward.
The American men's tennis drought persists as Alexander Zverev clinched victory over Ben Shelton in the US Open men's final. Zverev triumphed in four sets, with scores of 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2, securing his second Grand Slam title and extending the 23-year record of American men failing to win a tennis major. Andy Roddick was the last American champion at the 2003 US Open.
The German sensation, 29, will pocket a Grand Slam-record $5.5 million in prize money, raising his career earnings to $74 million, propelling him to the fourth spot in the all-time earnings list. Jannik Sinner, who withdrew from the US Open due to injury, trails at number five with $69.5 million. Zverev's win marks his second of the last three Grand Slams, following his French Open triumph in June.
He also reached the Wimbledon final in July, but lost to Jannik Sinner. Zverev's current world ranking is second, behind Sinner, who is at number one. Carlos Alcaraz holds the third position, while Shelton, who finished as runner-up, now occupies the fourth spot, marking his highest career ranking. With the win, Shelton secures $2.8 million, elevating his career earnings to $17.86 million, and moving him up from No. 59 to No. 47 in the all-time standings.
The US Open concludes the Grand Slam calendar for the year, with several Masters 1000 events remaining, starting with the China Open at the end of the month and the ATP Finals in mid-November. The prize money structure remains undisclosed for the latter event, but Sinner earned over $5 million last year for an undefeated stint. Zverev currently leads the race to qualify for the ATP Finals, fielding the top eight players of the season.
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- Grand Slam drought for U.S. men reaches 23rd year after Ben Shelton falls at U.S. Open japantimes.co.jp
- Zverev Beats Shelton as American Men’s Grand Slam Drought Continues frontofficesports.com
