Alexander Zverev captured his second Grand-Slam title by defeating American finalist Ben Shelton 6:3, 7:6 (7:2), 5:7, 6:2 at the US Open in New York, according to match reports. The victory marks the German player’s second major title of the season following his triumph at the French Open in June, making him only the second German man to win the singles title in New York after Boris Becker in 1989.
A Dominant Campaign in New York
Entering the tournament as the top seed, Zverev navigated through a demanding fortnight at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. According to tournament coverage, the 29-year-old Hamburger controlled long baseline exchanges and relied on a high first-serve conversion rate against the 23-year-old Shelton. In the opening set, Shelton dropped his serve immediately via a double fault, allowing Zverev to establish early momentum that carried through a 6:3 scoreline.
The second set proved tighter as Zverev encountered minor service inconsistencies, yet he maintained his composure to force a tiebreak. Dominating the exchange, Zverev surged to a 5:0 lead before closing out the tiebreak 7:2. The match unfolded before notable celebrities and sports figures in attendance at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, including actors Brad Pitt and Pierce Brosnan alongside alpine skier Lindsey Vonn.
Shelton’s Charge and the Third-Set Turning Point
Shelton, who advanced to the final by defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, fought back in the third set. According to match accounts, the American player left the court briefly before the third set to regroup, returning with heightened energy. Capitalizing on a series of unforced errors from Zverev during an eleventh-game service wobble, Shelton secured a break and captured the third set 5:7 to ignite the pro-American crowd.
The response from Zverev was immediate. He broke Shelton at the start of the fourth set and weathered a time violation warning from chair umpire Marijana Veljović for taking too long between serves. Relying on his physical endurance, Zverev sealed the fourth set 6:2 and converted his first matchball after 3 hours and 33 minutes of play.
Controversies and Service Routine Debates
Throughout the fortnight, Zverev’s pre-serve ball-bouncing routine drew scrutiny. During the final, Shelton complained to the chair umpire about the extended preparation time, prompting Veljović to instruct the German player to accelerate his pace. From the commentary position, Shelton’s father and coach, Bryan, remarked on ESPN that the prolonged bouncing disrupted his son’s rhythm.
Despite the hostile atmosphere and loud crowd backing the local favorite, Zverev brushed off the pressure. In his post-match comments reported by news outlets, he noted that he was accustomed to partisan crowds. After realizing he had won the match only upon checking the stadium scoreboard, Zverev acknowledged his team and family during the trophy presentation.
Historical Context and Rankings Implications
With this victory, Zverev collects a record prize of 5.5 million dollars (approximately 4.7 million euros) and joins elite company in German tennis history. The win also extends a long-standing drought for American men’s tennis, as Andy Roddick remains the last American male to win a Grand-Slam singles title, having done so at the US Open in September 2003.
In the ATP rankings, Zverev remains at number two in the world, narrowing the gap behind absent world number one Jannik Sinner, who skipped the tournament due to knee issues. Ben Shelton climbs to a career-high ranking of number four following his run to the final.
