Alexander Zverev Triumphs Over Ben Shelton in Four Sets to Claim His First US Open Title

Germany's Alexander Zverev secured his first US Open men's singles title in New York after defeating USA's Ben Shelton in a hard-fought four-set match, silencing a partisan American crowd.

With a 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 triumph on Sunday, the top-seeded German claimed his second major championship of the year. This victory also extended the drought for American men without a Grand Slam title, which has persisted since 2003.

Zverev capitalized on Shelton's shaky start during the American's first major final. He played a nearly flawless tiebreak on serve and fended off Shelton's comeback attempts while playing in front of a crowd fiercely cheering for the local contender.

Shelton was aiming to become the first American man to win the tournament since Andy Roddick in Flushing Meadows in 2003, and the first Black man to achieve the feat since Arthur Ashe in 1968. Despite the strong effort, Zverev proved too formidable.

Upon realizing he had won the match after his final serve, an initially disoriented Zverev reacted by raising his arms in celebration. During his post-match comments, the usually stoic German grew emotional as he thanked his coaching team, family, and his mother, reflecting on his childhood diabetes diagnosis and the hard work required to reach this milestone.

In defeat, the 23-year-old Shelton remained sombre while expressing gratitude for the dedication of his family members who supported him throughout his career. Zverev praised his younger opponent during the ceremony, predicting that Shelton will ultimately win the tournament one day.