US Open 2026 results: How Alexander Zverev turned tears into triumph in New York
Alexander Zverev secured his second Grand Slam title of the year by defeating Ben Shelton at the 2026 US Open. The victory marks a significant career milestone for the German player, who previously struggled with high-pressure moments at the same venue.
Why it matters
This win cements Zverev's status as a dominant force in modern tennis and highlights the mental evolution of elite athletes in high-stakes environments.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Alexander Zverev is the second German man to win the US Open in the Open era after Boris Becker
As he stepped up to the baseline, Alexander Zverev could be forgiven for letting his mind slip back to the last time he served for the US Open title.
Six years ago, the German top seed threw away a two-set lead in a devastating loss to Dominic Thiem, having served for the match in the fifth set.
This time, instead of his own nerves, it was American Ben Shelton and the majority of the 24,000-strong crowd that stood in Zverev's way.
But this was a different Zverev: a Grand Slam champion now, having won the French Open in June.
Such was his focus that he did not initially realise he had sealed a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-2 victory.
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