Alexander Zverev beats Ben Shelton to win his maiden US Open title
Zverev’s hilarious confusion after match point becomes a viral moment
The German adds his second Grand Slam title of 2026
Alexander Zverev beats Ben Shelton to win his maiden US Open title
Zverev’s hilarious confusion after match point becomes a viral moment
The German adds his second Grand Slam title of 2026
Alexander Zverev finally got his hands on the US Open trophy, but the German somehow managed to make the biggest moment of his night look almost ordinary.
After defeating Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Zverev initially appeared completely unaware that he had just become the champion of New York.
Instead of immediately celebrating, the top seed seemed to think the match was still going on. He turned towards the court as the crowd erupted, creating one of the strangest Grand Slam winning moments in recent memory. It took a few seconds before reality appeared to sink in that he had actually done it.
The reaction was almost comical considering what was at stake. Zverev had spent six years carrying the memory of his painful 2020 US Open final defeat, when he surrendered a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem. This time, there would be no repeat heartbreak.
Shelton had threatened to turn the final around after stealing the third set, but Zverev responded emphatically. He tightened his game in the fourth, broke the American early and never allowed the momentum to swing back.
When the final point arrived, however, Zverev's brain apparently needed a few extra seconds to process the occasion.
The stunned expression quickly became the defining image of his breakthrough New York triumph.
The US Open victory gives Zverev his second Grand Slam title of the season after his French Open triumph, proving just how far his 2026 campaign has come. He had even described his opening rounds in New York as “horrible” before producing increasingly impressive tennis.
For Shelton, the defeat was painful, but his run still represented a major breakthrough. The 23-year-old became the first Black American man since Arthur Ashe in 1972 to reach the US Open final.