Alexander Zverev had waited six years to erase the agonizing memory of his 2020 US Open final heartbreak. When the moment of redemption finally arrived under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, the world No. 2 did something entirely unexpected: he prepared for another serve.
In a surreal conclusion to a high-stakes championship, Zverev defeated American challenger Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2. As he secured match point, the German remained fixed behind the baseline, his racquet raised in a ready stance, awaiting a serve that was never coming. It took the bewildered reactions of his coaching staff and a slow glance around the roaring stadium for the reality to sink in—he was, at long last, a US Open champion.
‘I didn’t hear that she said, Game, set, match’
The momentary lapse in judgment spoke volumes about the level of focus Zverev maintained throughout the four-set battle. Locked in an intense mental struggle against the rising American star, Zverev admitted he had completely lost track of the score in the heat of the competition.
“In that moment, I was in the zone a lot. I didn’t hear noise at all,” Zverev explained during his post-match press conference. “I was in this kind of tunnel where I just didn’t hear anything. Also, when the crowd is loud, it’s impossible to hear the umpire, so I didn’t hear that she said, ‘Game, set, match’. At the end of the day, I just forgot the score. I just thought it was 5-1 instead of 6-2.”
For Zverev, the victory serves as the ultimate closure for the ghosts of 2020, where he famously let a two-set lead slip against Dominic Thiem. After his maiden Grand Slam triumph at Roland Garros this past June, Zverev noted that the psychological scars of that devastating loss have finally faded.
“Before winning in Paris, I felt a lot of stress all the time, because there was always a question mark: ‘Will I ever win one?’” Zverev shared. “Now, there is just more of a joy to play those kinds of finals.”
Zverev’s verdict on Shelton
While the day belonged to the German, he was quick to offer high praise for Ben Shelton, who was making his first-ever appearance in a Grand Slam final. The 23-year-old American tested Zverev throughout, forcing him to dig deep into his repertoire of defensive and offensive skills.
Zverev, who has faced Shelton several times in recent years, noted a significant evolution in the American’s game. “I think he’s very talented, but he’s very close to the hard work as well,” Zverev said. “You see him and his father all the time after matches, before matches, working on different things, and every single year he keeps improving something.”
The world No. 2 specifically highlighted Shelton’s newfound consistency. “I think this was the best backhand he’s ever hit against me, the most consistent power,” Zverev observed. “I remember a couple of years ago when I first played him, he was always dangerous, but if you played three, four balls back, there would be an error. That was absolutely not the case today.”
‘Right, right now, probably yes’
With this victory, Zverev cements his status as the only player to have claimed multiple Grand Slam titles in 2026, putting him in a class of his own for the current campaign. With Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz each holding one major, the debate regarding the current “best player in the world” has reached a fever pitch.
When asked to weigh in on his standing in the hierarchy of the sport, Zverev was measured, acknowledging the context of his rivals’ health struggles. “I don’t know how to answer that,” he admitted. “With Jannik Sinner being injured and Carlos Alcaraz coming back from injury after four months, right now, this moment, probably yes.”
However, the champion remained grounded in his assessment of the ATP landscape. He was careful to clarify that the title of “best in the world” remains a moving target depending on the physical fitness of his peers.
“Both of them healthy, both of them at the top of their game? Maybe not,” he conceded. “Four or five months ago, when both of them were healthy, I wasn’t. I was losing to Jannik all the time. If everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead. It’s as simple as that.”
Zverev’s honesty is refreshing, but the numbers speak for themselves. After a difficult stretch against the world No. 1, Sinner—against whom he is 0-5 this year—Zverev has successfully navigated the path to becoming a multi-time Grand Slam champion. Whether or not he is currently the definitive “best” in the world, he is undoubtedly the man with the trophy, and for the first time in his career, he is playing with the calm and clarity of a champion who has nothing left to prove to anyone but himself.
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