Germany's Alexander Zverev beats Ben Shelton to win the US Open title

Germany's Alexander Zverev claimed his first US Open title on Sunday, defeating American Ben Shelton in a grueling four-set match at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. This victory marks Zverev's second Grand Slam championship, following his French Open win earlier in the year. It also ends a six-year streak of US Open finals where the top-seeded player let a two-set lead slip, as was the case with Zverev's 2020 final against Dominic Thiem.

Zverev's focus and mental toughness were key factors in his triumph, as he managed to tune out the raucous cheers from the crowd, including his girlfriend Trinity Rodman, who had traveled from Washington to support Shelton. Despite the overwhelming desire for an American champion, Zverev remained unfazed, stating that he was "in the zone" throughout the match.

Shelton, who was attempting to become the first Black player to win the men's crown since Arthur Ashe in 1968, acknowledged that Zverev was simply too good this year. The 25-2 record in major matches this year earned Zverev $5.5 million, the largest prize in Grand Slam history. Zverev's victory extends his winning streak in majors this year, following his French Open triumph earlier.

The German star, now a No. 1 seed in a Grand Slam for the first time, capitalized on Shelton's shaky start and played an almost flawless tiebreaker on serve. He then turned back a comeback attempt in front of a crowd that had been fervently supporting Shelton. While Zverev admitted that the crowd was against him, he praised the fairness of the atmosphere and the incredible experience of playing in the US Open final.