In the 2026 US Open men’s final, Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton are set to compete, each seeking to cement a significant career milestone regardless of the outcome. The German top seed has secured a Grand Slam title many doubted he would win, while the American eighth seed has proven he can defeat the sport’s elite to reach a major final.
“This entire tournament has been uncharted territory,” Shelton remarked, noting that he is competing in positions previously unfamiliar to him and has defeated opponents he had never beaten before. He faces a hurdle in Zverev, having lost all five prior meetings, but a victory would make him the first American man in 23 years to claim a Grand Slam singles title.
At the start of the season, Zverev’s odds of winning two major titles were considered long. Now, the French Open champion is the slight favorite to add to his tally, which includes a previous runner-up finish at Wimbledon. Zverev acknowledged that he believed he could surpass the combined major wins of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, a feat few outsiders predicted.
The duo of Sinner and Alcaraz, who had swept the Grand Slams in 2024 and 2025 under the nickname ‘Sincaraz’, dominated the sport until injuries sidelined them. Alcaraz missed the French Open and Wimbledon, while Sinner was ruled out of the US Open, opening the door for others to challenge for the trophies.
Zverev, 29, is contesting his second US Open final after losing to Dominic Thiem in 2020 when he held a two-set lead. For seasons following that defeat, he often appeared in major finals with visible hesitation about his ability to win. That mental barrier was finally dismantled after his victory over Flavio Cobolli at Roland Garros, leading to his current run of three consecutive Grand Slam finals.
Although Zverev had to grind through early rounds at Flushing Meadows without facing a top-20 opponent, he is expected to improve as the tournament progresses. Shelton represents a substantial upgrade in quality, yet the pressure of his first US Open final may weigh on him similarly.
Shelton, 23, is aiming to become the first US Open men’s singles champion from the United States since Andy Roddick in 2003. He could also become the first black American man to win a singles major since Arthur Ashe in 1975. When reminded of the historical stakes following his semi-final win over Frances Tiafoe, Shelton smiled and asked, “Is there?”
Former world number four James Blake emphasized the importance of representation, telling BBC Sport that Shelton’s presence in the final could inspire young African Americans who might not have otherwise engaged with the sport. “He is willing to suffer a little bit in the rallies, go deeper and really use his athleticism,” said Shelton’s father and coach, Bryan, highlighting the American’s development of defensive skills to complement his powerful serve.
Shelton’s season has included four titles on various surfaces and a historic quarter-final victory over Alcaraz, ending the Spanish star’s winning streak and marking Shelton’s first win against a top-three opponent.
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