Alexander Zverev Wins the US Open
Alexander Zverev beat Ben Shelton in the US Open final for another major title and a stronger position in the rankings race.
A composed finish in New York
Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in the US Open final and claimed another major title. He stayed composed. Zverev arrived ranked No. 3, with a 9-1 record across his last ten completed matches, and his French Open title had already made this his strongest season.
Shelton had strong home support in a packed New York stadium. The American is No. 6 in the rankings and has gone 8-2 in his last ten completed matches, form that made his run to the final unsurprising. Zverev did not allow the noise or Shelton's energy to pull him into rushed tennis. He kept his patterns simple.
Serving held up under pressure
Zverev's serve set the tone early. He won 39 of 42 first-serve points across the opening sets, leaving Shelton few chances to start exchanges from an attacking position. That margin mattered. Zverev was able to protect his service games while keeping the ball deep enough to limit Shelton's first-strike opportunities.
Shelton eventually broke to take the later set and prolong the final. The response was brief. He collected four of 20 receiving points in the closing set, while Zverev returned to a measured service game and refused to chase low-percentage shots. The German absorbed the setback without changing his tempo. That steadiness settled the championship.
A different outcome from the earlier final
The win carried extra weight after Zverev's loss to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 final. Zverev had held a commanding advantage and later served for the title before Thiem recovered to win. This finish looked different. After his final serve, Zverev moved back toward the baseline before his team told him the match was complete.
His focus had been tested well before the final. Zverev needed full-distance wins in his opening pair of matches and was close to defeat in the first round, then went through the rest of the draw without losing a set before Shelton. Thiem is ranked No. 98 and has a 2-8 record in his last ten completed matches. The older New York disappointment no longer defines Zverev's record there.
The ranking race continues
Zverev added the US Open to his French Open title, plus deep runs at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. The ranking chase remains open. He sits 1,810 points behind Jannik Sinner, with two Masters events and the season-ending ATP Tour Finals still on the schedule. His father, Alexander senior, was courtside as coach after missing the earlier New York final.
Zverev also thanked his mother for her support after a childhood type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Off court, allegations by former partners have made him a divisive figure, and he has denied them. A legal case that began in 2023 was discontinued in 2024, without a finding of guilt or innocence. On court, this title gives him a stronger platform for the push toward the top ranking.
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