Zverev's Refreshingly Honest Assessment
Alexander Zverev has done something rare in professional tennis: he has publicly talked himself out of the favorite's role at a major tournament. Reaching his third semifinal at the US Open in New York after a straight-sets win over Botic van de Zandschulp, the German is the only man left standing who has previously appeared in a Grand Slam final, yet he is convinced that recent form matters more than pedigree on paper.
Zverev's resume heading into the semifinals is genuinely impressive. He captured his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in June, defeating Flavio Cobolli in five sets, then reached the Wimbledon final just weeks later before falling to Jannik Sinner. He has now collected semifinal appearances at all four major events this season. Still, when reporters pressed him for a favorite, he pointed directly at Ben Shelton, who defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller that finished after 3:30am local time.
Why Shelton Has Earned That Respect
Zverev acknowledged that Shelton has been the standout performer throughout the North American hard-court stretch, including a title at the Canadian Open in Montreal. "He has played better than me throughout the hard court swing," Zverev said plainly, adding that good tennis rather than nerves or experience would ultimately decide the title.
The numbers do favor Zverev in a potential final. He holds a 5-0 head-to-head record against Shelton and a 9-1 mark against fellow American Frances Tiafoe, who faces Shelton in the other semifinal. Still, Zverev insisted all four remaining players deserve their spots. TennisDraw users will want to factor both Shelton's red-hot form and Zverev's remarkable Grand Slam consistency into their bracket picks before Sunday's final.
