A Champion's Win, and a Controversial Take
Alexander Zverev captured the US Open title on Sunday, defeating Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in a three-hour-and-33-minute final that marked the German's second Grand Slam trophy of 2026, following his French Open crown in June. It was a commanding performance from Zverev, who grew stronger as the tournament progressed after a shaky opening week that required five sets in each of his first two matches.
Shelton arrived at the final as the hottest player at Flushing Meadows, having knocked out Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz, and Frances Tiafoe in three straight rounds. Zverev neutralized the big-serving left-hander by keeping the ball deep and avoiding the kind of pace-heavy exchanges that typically fuel Shelton's backhand. After the match, Zverev praised Shelton's development openly, noting that the 23-year-old has become far more consistent, particularly on the backhand side, compared to when they first met on tour.
The Comment That Sparked the Debate
However, it was a separate remark directed at Alcaraz and Tiafoe that lit up social media. Zverev told reporters he believed both players made a tactical error by feeding pace into Shelton's backhand, calling it a "mistake" that he deliberately avoided. Critics quickly pushed back online, pointing out that Alcaraz had taken Shelton to a final-set tiebreaker in what many considered the match of the tournament, and that calling it a simple mistake showed, in the words of some users, considerable nerve.
Meanwhile, former champion Boris Becker added to the buzz around Zverev by predicting the German would reach the world No. 1 ranking before the ATP Finals begin in Turin in November. With Jannik Sinner sidelined by a knee injury and defending a heavy points load through the fall, the path looks increasingly realistic. TennisDraw users had Zverev as a strong finalist pick entering this year's US Open draw.
