Accra, Ghana — Germany’s Alexander Zverev has been crowned the 2026 US Open men’s singles champion after overcoming home favourite Ben Shelton in a thrilling four-set final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
The world number two produced a composed and powerful performance to defeat the American 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in three hours and 33 minutes on Sunday, 13 September.
Zverev made a fast start and took control of the opening set before edging a tense second-set tie-break 7-2 to move within one set of the title.
Shelton, backed by a passionate home crowd, refused to surrender. The American raised his level in the third set and fought back to take it 7-5, briefly giving the New York crowd hope of a dramatic comeback.
But Zverev remained calm under pressure.
The German regained control in the fourth set, breaking Shelton’s resistance to close out the match 6-2 and seal one of the biggest victories of his career.
The triumph gives Zverev his second Grand Slam title of 2026, following his maiden major championship at the French Open in June.
It also places him alongside German great Boris Becker as the only German men in the Open Era to win multiple Grand Slam singles titles.
For Zverev, the victory represents another remarkable chapter in a career that has seen him repeatedly come close to Grand Slam glory before finally breaking through in Paris earlier this year.
Now, just months after lifting his first major trophy, the 29-year-old has added the US Open crown to his collection.
From Roland Garros to New York, Zverev has established himself as one of the dominant forces in men’s tennis in 2026.
Alexander Zverev is a Grand Slam champion again and this time, he is the king of New York.
Story by Achore Richard