2026 US Open results: Alexander Zverev ousts Ben Shelton, extends American men’s 23-year Grand Slam drought

Alexander Zverev made sure the United States' long wait for a men's tennis Grand Slam champion continued Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, overpowering Ben Shelton in a commanding US Open final (6-3, 7-6[7-2], 5-7, 6-2). The top-seeded Zverev claimed his second Grand Slam title of the season after previously winning the French Open and playing in the final at Wimbledon.

Andy Roddick remains the last American man to win a major on the singles side, doing so in 2003, while Shelton was the second since Roddick to compete in a Grand Slam final.

The ever-steady Zverev was calculated against Shelton's thunderous, sometimes shaky serve, weathering the pro-underdog New York crowd before pouncing whenever opportunities arose. Zverev faced only one break point in the match prior to Shelton's breakthrough in the final game of the third set when broke the German for the first time in 66 service games.

Zverev opened the decisive fourth set with a break of serve during a 24-point rally, finally coaxing Shelton into an unforced error that sailed wide off his backhand. Zverev served to perfection in the fourth set en route to capturing his second career major.

Now 6-0 in his career against Shelton, Zverev…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/