Zverev wins US Open for second Grand Slam title

Alexander Zverev emerged victorious at the US Open on Sunday, claiming his second Grand Slam title in a span of months following his win at the French Open. The top-seeded German triumphed 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-2 against Ben Shelton, extinguishing the eighth seed's hopes of becoming the first US man in 23 years to secure a Grand Slam title.

Zverev's triumph swiftly erased the painful memory of his 2020 US Open loss, where he fell two points short against Dominic Thiem. Six years had passed since Zverev's breakthrough, including two major finals disappointments. Speaking at the trophy presentation, Zverev attributed his triumph to hard work, suffering, and the pain endured prior to 2026.

The 23-year-old Shelton, one month away from his first birthday when Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003, had high hopes of ending the US man's 23-year winless streak. However, Zverev's all-court superiority proved too formidable for Shelton despite the support from a star-studded Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. Zverev's dominance was evident from the beginning, breaking Shelton's serve in the first game and securing a two-sets-to-none lead with a service winner in the third set.

Shelton, despite his early surge in the third set and come-from-behind victory against Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals, failed to match Zverev's level of play. Shelton, expressing regret over his errors, acknowledged the difficulty of competing against Zverev. With this win, Zverev positioned himself as a strong contender for the world's top ranking, potentially challenging Italian Jannik Sinner, who is currently sidelined due to a knee injury.