Alexander Zverev clinched his first US Open title by defeating Ben Shelton with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2, marking his second Grand Slam victory of the year. The top-seeded German displayed dominance throughout the match, leveraging a robust serve and steady baseline game to secure the win.
Zverev’s performance was defined by his ability to win 85% of points on his first serve, effectively countering Shelton’s formidable forehand with his two-handed backhand. Despite a shaky start, Shelton managed to rally in the third set, saving himself from defeat at 6-5 and breaking Zverev’s serve to extend the match into a fourth set. However, Zverev quickly regained control by breaking Shelton’s serve early in the fourth set and maintained his lead to close out the match.
This victory not only extends Zverev’s perfect record against Shelton to 6-0 but also places him among an elite group of players in the Open Era, including Jimmy Connors, Guillermo Vilas, and Jannik Sinner, who have won their first two Grand Slam titles in the same season. Meanwhile, Shelton, who aimed to become the first Black American man to win the US Open since Arthur Ashe in 1968 and the first American man since Andy Roddick in 2003, saw his hopes dashed.
Shelton’s performance at the US Open capped off an impressive summer for the 23-year-old, who claimed his second Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open and reached a career-high world ranking of No. 4. Despite the loss, his trajectory in the sport remains promising.
Amidst his triumph, Zverev continues to face public scrutiny over allegations made by former partners Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea, which he has denied. In 2024, he settled an assault case in Germany involving Patea without a verdict, as the court stated the truth was unresolved. Nonetheless, Zverev’s focus on his game has paid dividends, as evidenced by his consistent performance and recent Grand Slam successes.