From ABC7 Los Angeles · · 1m 20s
Zverev wins the US Open, America keeps waiting
Ben Shelton had a chance to end a 23-year wait for American men, and Alexander Zverev refused to let it happen.
In brief
Ben Shelton had a chance to end a 23-year wait for American men, and Alexander Zverev refused to let it happen. Zverev's breakthrough year is complete: two majors in 2026, and American men are still stuck on 2003. Originally reported by ABC7 Los Angeles.
Zverev takes New York
Alexander Zverev beat Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 on Sunday to win the US Open, his second major championship.
The title he let slip
He finally broke through at this year's French Open, then added the New York trophy he painfully lost in the 2020 final.
Top seed, first time
Seeded No. 1 at a Grand Slam for the first time, Zverev punished Shelton's shaky start in the American's first major final.
The tiebreaker settled it
Zverev played a nearly flawless tiebreaker on serve, then held off Shelton's third-set comeback while the crowd roared for the home player.
23 years and counting
Shelton was chasing the first US Open title by an American man since Andy Roddick in 2003, and the first by a Black man since Arthur Ashe in 1968.
He didn't know he'd won
Zverev finished on serve and drifted back behind the baseline as if to return. Only moments later did he realize it was over and raise his arms.
“apparently didn't even know how good he was”
The one thing
Zverev's breakthrough year is complete: two majors in 2026, and American men are still stuck on 2003.
