Alexander Zverev won his first U.S. Open title on Sunday. He beat Ben Shelton in four sets. The scores were 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2. It was Zverev’s second Grand Slam title of the year. He had never won a major before this season.
Shelton fought hard. He was down two sets but won the third to give himself hope. The crowd got behind him. But in the fourth set, Shelton lost his serve right away. Zverev took control and never let go. He served very well in all matches. He landed 69 per cent of his first serves. He won 85 per cent of those points. Shelton double-faulted on break point in the first game. He also double-faulted on set point in the first set. Those mistakes cost him.
For Zverev, this win is a big achievement. He is now one of only four men in the Open era to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same year. The others are Jimmy Connors, Guillermo Vilas, and Jannik Sinner. Zverev also stopped Shelton from making history. Shelton would have been the first Black American man to win the U.S. Open since Arthur Ashe in 1968. He would have been the first American man to win it since Andy Roddick in 2003.
Zverev has now beaten Shelton six times in a row. He has never lost to him. Zverev served better and was steadier from the baseline. He used his backhand to cancel out Shelton’s big lefty forehand. Shelton’s forehand was too erratic. He could not match Zverev in the long rallies.
This has been a strange season on the men’s tour. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have both dealt with injuries. That gave other players a chance to step up. Zverev took advantage. He has been consistent. He kept putting himself in deep positions at majors. Each win has made him stronger mentally.
For Shelton, this was still a great summer. He won a Masters 1000 title in Canada and reached his first Grand Slam final. He also reached a career-high ranking of No. 4 at only 23 years old. He has a lot of room to improve. But his ground game and return of serve still need work. The best players can expose those weaknesses.
Emotional US Open Speech Honours Mother and His Journey With Diabetes
Alexander Zverev won his first U.S. Open title, beating Ben Shelton in four sets. The scores were 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2. The match was played at Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was Zverev’s second Grand Slam title of the year.
After the win, Alexander Zverev gave an emotional speech. He thanked his mother, Irina. He called her the most important person in his tennis life and in his life overall. He said she was never actually watching his matches, but she was still the most important person to him.
Zverev then shared a story from his childhood. He was diagnosed with diabetes when he was four years old. He said doctors told his family that life and sports would be very limited for him. But his mother walked out of that office and said her son would be whatever he wanted to be. If he wanted to be a tennis player, he would be one. If he wanted to do something else, he would do that. She said the illness would not define them.
Alexander Zverev described his mother as the strongest person he knows. He said it takes an unbelievably strong woman to do what she did. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age four. He kept it private for many years and only revealed it publicly in 2022. He then started the Alexander Zverev Foundation. The foundation supports children with diabetes. It also helps improve access to insulin and medication.
This season has been a big one for Zverev. He won his first Grand Slam at the French Open earlier this year. Now he has won the U.S. Open. That gives him two major titles in 2026.
The win also meant a lot because of what happened in 2020. That year, Zverev reached the U.S. Open final and led Dominic Thiem by two sets. But he lost the match. This time, he held his nerve and lifted the trophy. When the celebrations began, he made sure to remember his mother. She had never let his illness define what he could achieve.
FAQs
Q. Who won the 2026 U.S. Open men’s title?
A. Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton.
Q. What was the score in the final?
A. Zverev won 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2.
Q. How many Grand Slam titles has Zverev won this year?
A. Zverev has won two Grand Slam titles.
Q. How many times has Zverev beaten Shelton?
A. Zverev has beaten Shelton six times in a row.
Q. What was Shelton’s biggest achievement this summer?
A. Shelton won a Masters 1000 title in Canada and reached his first Grand Slam final.
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