A moment for a new US Open champion 🤩 https://t.co/HWnLmcpjQP
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 14, 2026
In the US Open men's singles final, Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2. It was the second grand slam title of the season for Zverev (French Open) and also the second of his career. After looking like a guy who might not ever win a grand slam, the 29 year old Zverev now has a pair under his belt, halfway to a career grand slam. It's amazing the difference one season can make!
While he benefited a bit from guys like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner not being at full strength, Zverev still did what was needed to win the US Open and French Open this year. Winning one grand slam is no small feat. There's no such thing as a grand slam title that is a fluke. You win one, you're legit. That being said, winning a second grand slam title puts you in a different stratosphere. By winning two this season (reaching Wimbledon final as well), Zverev has shown that he has truly figured something out and that he is a force to be reckoned with going forward.
The most impressive part of Zverev's success this season is just the mental fortitude that he has shown. He had already played in three grand slam finals before he finally broke through at the French Open (2020 US Open, 2024 French Open, & 2025 Australian Open). Last season, he got bounced in the 1st round at Wimbledon and the 3rd round at the US Open. He had every reason to think his time was never coming and yet he kept grinding, kept improving his game, and kept believing. As a result, he got rewarded not once, but twice. There's a lesson there.
Looking ahead, I think what has to have Zverev most excited is the fact that he's finding success on multiple surfaces. He's figured out how to win grand slams on clay and hard court while coming up a bit short on the grass at Wimbledon. You can't count him out on any surface, making him a threat at every grand slam. It took him a while to climb the mountain, but now that he has, I think it's safe to say that he's going to be a tough out for the foreseeable future.
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