The 2026 US Open men’s singles final takes place on Sunday, September 13, at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. The match is scheduled to begin at 2pm local time (18:00 GMT), with all eyes on a historic clash between American Ben Shelton and German top seed Alexander Zverev.
For the first time in over two decades, American men’s tennis hopes rest squarely on one player. Shelton, 23, is chasing a victory that would end a 23-year wait since Andy Roddick’s triumph at this tournament in 2003. Additionally, a win would make him the first Black American man to capture the New York title since Arthur Ashe in 1968.
Shelton arrives in the final riding a wave of momentum, having defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals and American compatriot Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in the semifinals. Speaking to reporters, Shelton described the run as “uncharted territory,” noting his excitement to compete against a Grand Slam champion and push himself to the limit.
Opposing him is Zverev, who is making his third consecutive major final and his second appearance in the US Open championship match, six years after his maiden final run. The world number two overcame unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov in the semifinals with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (8/6). Zverev claims the experience gap is significant compared to his 2020 final loss to Dominic Thiem. “Everything is different,” Zverev stated, highlighting his recent victory at the French Open and his comfort playing in a sold-out stadium, a stark contrast to the empty arenas during the pandemic.
History favors Zverev on paper. He leads the head-to-head record 5-0, including their most recent meeting at the 2025 ATP Finals in Turin. However, Zverev has struggled in major finals, holding a 1-4 record in championship matches. Shelton, ranked ninth in the world, is considered the favorite by many due to his electric form and the support of the home crowd. His resilience was on full display in the quarterfinals, where he defeated Alcaraz in a five-set epic that concluded at 3:33 am, marking the latest-ever finish for a match at the hard-court major.
As for past achievements, Zverev has one Grand Slam title to his name, won earlier this year at the French Open. Shelton is bidding for his maiden major crown; his previous best results were semifinal appearances at the 2025 Australian Open and the 2023 US Open.
The winner of the men’s singles final will receive $5.5 million, with the runner-up earning $2.8 million. These payouts are part of a total prize pool of $108 million for the 2026 edition. Coverage will be available globally via international broadcast partners, including ESPN in the United States, Sky Sports in the UK, JioHotstar in India, and SuperSport in South Africa.
The $5.5 million payday is massive, but the real prize is etching his name into tennis history. Huge stakes here.
Five h2h wins for Zverev is a serious hurdle. Can Shelton’s serve keep him in the match against such precision?
Shelton ending the Roddick drought would be huge. That electric energy at Arthur Ashe is unmatched this year.