Zverev beats Shelton in US Open final to claim second Grand Slam title

Alexander Zverev is the new US Open men's singles champion. The German top seed beat American Ben Shelton in four sets at Flushing Meadows, adding the New York title to the French Open he won in June. It is his second Grand Slam victory of the year and his first in New York, six years after he lost the final to Dominic Thiem having led by two sets.

Zverev, 29, was in control for much of the match. Shelton, 23, playing in his first major final, fought hard and took the third set with the home crowd behind him. But Zverev responded in the fourth, relying on his powerful first serve to seal the win. The match ended in unusual fashion, with Zverev seemingly unaware he had won the title, a sign of the intense focus he had maintained throughout.

Shelton had already made history by becoming the first black American man to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972, and he did so in the stadium named after Ashe. Despite the loss, his run included a victory over Carlos Alcaraz, and the American has been hailed for his talent and potential. The United States still awaits its first male Grand Slam champion since Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003.

Zverev's path to the title was aided by injuries to top players such as Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, but he has taken his opportunities well. He has now reached the final at Wimbledon and won two majors in the space of a few months. He also spoke afterwards about how much he enjoyed this run compared with the pressure of winning his first Grand Slam.

Shelton was gracious in defeat but clearly disappointed, unable to look at the runner-up trophy. Analysts noted that Shelton's game does not match up well against Zverev, who has now won all five of their meetings. Still, with several strong young American players emerging, the future of men's tennis in the United States looks promising, even if the wait for a champion goes on.