Alexander Zverev Wins US Open to Claim Second Grand Slam Title

Zverev Secures Second Major Title in New York

Zverev completed his victory over the eighth-seeded Shelton after three hours and 33 minutes on the hard court of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Despite losing the winner count 35 to 47, the German player capitalized on fewer unforced errors, committing 31 compared to Shelton’s 47. Shelton contributed ten aces but struggled with consistency, hitting a crucial double fault on a set point during the opening set. The win amends Zverev’s previous defeat in the 2020 US Open final, where he lost to Austrian Dominic Thiem. With this triumph, Zverev becomes the first German player to win the US Open men’s singles tournament since Boris Becker claimed the title in 1989. He also stands as the second-oldest first-time winner in the tournament’s Open Era, following Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka, who was two years older when he won in 2016.

Match Progression and Shelton’s Challenge

Zverev seized early control of the match by breaking Shelton’s serve in the opening game, aided by an American double fault on a break point. He maintained that advantage to take the first set 6-3. The second set followed a similar tight pattern on serve before proceeding to a tiebreak, which Zverev dominated by winning the first five points to secure a two-set lead. Shelton mounted a comeback in the third set, energizing the home crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium. After failing to convert a break point in the sixth game, the American capitalized on a 40-0 lead while returning at 6-5, converting his second opportunity to claim the set 7-5. Any momentum for an upset faded quickly in the fourth set. Shelton dropped his opening service game despite holding a 30-0 lead, allowing Zverev to pull ahead 2-0. Although Zverev received a time violation warning at 30-30 in the fourth game, he held serve and later broke Shelton again in the seventh game before serving out the match. Upon converting his first match point, Zverev initially remained unaware the match had concluded until checking the stadium scoreboard.

Historical Context of the Final

The outcome leaves the 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick as the most recent American man to win the singles title at Flushing Meadows, as Shelton was making his first appearance in a Grand Slam final. Zverev improved his career head-to-head record against Shelton to six wins in as many encounters, successfully closing out his third final appearance of the season on a hard court with a total tournament purse of $108 million.