theglobalsun – Alexander Zverev defeated American eighth seed Ben Shelton in the US Open final to claim his second Grand Slam singles title. The German top seed prevailed 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
Zverev entered the final with considerable momentum after winning his maiden major championship at the French Open earlier this year. The 29-year-old has now added another Grand Slam title within the same season, marking a significant development in his career.
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German Makes Strong Start in New York
At the beginning of the season, questions remained about whether Zverev would eventually win one of tennis’s four major championships. Despite consistently competing near the top of the rankings. The German had previously struggled to convert deep tournament runs into Grand Slam titles.
He quickly demonstrated his experience against Shelton by breaking the American’s serve in the opening game. Zverev maintained control throughout the first set and continued to dictate the second. Eventually taking the tie-break 7-2 to establish a commanding advantage.
Shelton Fights Back in Third Set
Shelton refused to allow the final to end quickly and gradually increased the pressure on Zverev’s serve. The 23-year-old American began using his powerful groundstrokes more effectively and created opportunities to disrupt Zverev’s rhythm.
The eighth seed eventually converted his third break opportunity, prompting a loud response from the approximately 24,000 spectators inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. Shelton maintained his composure and secured the third set 7-5, reducing the deficit and giving the home crowd renewed hope.
Zverev Restores Control in Fourth Set
Shelton appeared to have gained momentum heading into the fourth set, but his challenge suffered an immediate setback. A poor service game at the start of the set allowed Zverev to regain control and put the German back in a strong position.
Zverev responded by applying consistent pressure and limiting Shelton’s opportunities to launch another comeback. The German eventually closed out the fourth set 6-2, securing the championship after more than three hours of high-level tennis.
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Shelton’s American Title Bid Ends
Shelton had been attempting to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick’s US Open victory in 2003. Although he fell short in his first major final, his run marked another important step in the development of his career.
Zverev’s victory also comes during a period in which injuries have affected recent Grand Slam competition involving Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The two players dominated the major tournaments across 2024 and 2025, but Zverev has taken advantage of opportunities against the rest of the field.
The championship point produced an unusual scene as Zverev initially appeared unaware that the match had ended. Shelton sent his final return long, but Zverev only realised he had won after his team pointed toward the scoreboard. The German then broke into a broad smile as he celebrated another major milestone in his career.
