By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Alexander Zverev has captured his second Grand Slam title after defeating American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open men’s singles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The German top seed maintained his composure through a fiercely contested final before pulling away in the fourth set to secure the championship.
The victory also completed a remarkable major season for Zverev, who had already triumphed at the French Open in June.
Zverev entered the final with the pressure of being the tournament’s top seed and competing in his third consecutive Grand Slam final.
He responded with a controlled performance, particularly from the baseline, where his depth and consistency repeatedly frustrated Shelton.
The German took the opening set 6-3, establishing an early advantage and forcing Shelton to chase the match.
Zverev then edged a tense second set in a 7-2 tie-break, moving within one set of the title. Shelton, however, refused to surrender.
The eighth-seeded American raised his intensity in the third set, introducing more variety into his game and taking greater risks at the net. His aggressive approach paid off as he secured the set 7-5, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Shelton’s response briefly transformed the contest. With the home crowd behind him at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the American appeared to have shifted the momentum and put Zverev under considerable pressure.
But the German responded with the composure that had characterised his performance throughout the evening.
Zverev broke early in the fourth set and steadily tightened his grip on the match. His deep groundstrokes kept Shelton behind the baseline, while his defence repeatedly forced the American into errors.
The decisive moments arrived as Zverev secured another break to move 5-2 ahead, putting himself within touching distance of his first US Open crown.
He then served for the championship, producing the quality required under enormous pressure. Zverev brought up championship points with powerful first serves before completing the victory at 6-2.
The triumph marks a major milestone in Zverev’s career. After previously establishing himself as one of the leading players of his generation, the German now has a second Grand Slam trophy to accompany his French Open success earlier in the year.
His victory also came against an American opponent attempting to end a long wait for a home men’s singles champion. Shelton had been bidding to become the first American man in 23 years to win a major singles title, but his breakthrough bid ultimately fell short.
