# 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.
- Title: Zverev wins the US Open, America keeps waiting | Shortify
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: tennis, us open, alexander zverev, ben shelton, grand slam, news, local, Zverev, wins, Open, America, keeps
- Source: ABC7 Los Angeles — https://abc7.com/post/alexander-zverev-beats-ben-shelton-sets-us-open-final/19827380
- Published: 2026-09-13T21:56:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: tennis, us open, alexander zverev, ben shelton, grand slam, news, local
## 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
## Key takeaway

Zverev's breakthrough year is complete: two majors in 2026, and American men are still stuck on 2003.