“It cuts you a little bit”: Ben Shelton opens up on the pain of falling short in first Grand Slam final
ATPMonday, 14 September 2026 at 08:30
Ben Shelton came closer than any American man in more than two decades to ending the country's wait for a men's Grand Slam champion, but Alexander Zverev ultimately denied him the biggest title of his career. The German defeated Shelton 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open final, leaving the 23-year-old to wait for another opportunity.
For Shelton, however, the defeat came at the end of a remarkable fortnight in New York. He beat Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal thriller before defeating fellow American Frances Tiafoe to reach his first Grand Slam final, becoming the latest American man to carry the hopes of a home crowd looking for a champion.
Zverev proved too strong in the final, controlling the tempo with his serve and absorbing Shelton's biggest weapons from the baseline. Shelton eventually found a way back into the contest in the third set, breaking Zverev for the first time in 66 consecutive service games, but the German responded by closing out the fourth.
The loss clearly hurt Shelton, but his comments afterwards suggested that he does not view the defeat as the defining moment of his US Open. Instead, the American believes the experience has given him another level to reach and a reason to work even harder.
“It cuts you a little bit”
Shelton did not try to hide the disappointment of missing out on his first Grand Slam title. Despite his long-term approach to the sport, he acknowledged that losing a major final still leaves a mark.
“I'm at a point where, you know, the losses don't break me because I have very long-term goals,” Shelton said. “As a team, we're very process-oriented and we just know that this is part of the process.”
That mentality does not mean he is unaffected by defeat, however. Shelton's competitiveness was on full display throughout his run, particularly during his victory over Alcaraz, and he admitted that the emotional side of losing remains unavoidable.
“Obviously, I'm a competitor. I think that I show that for the most part out on the court and every loss hurts, you know, it cuts you a little bit,” he said.
The final also presented Shelton with a different tactical challenge. While the American generally looks to maintain a fast rhythm, Zverev took considerably more time before his serves and repeatedly disrupted the pace of the match. At one stage, the German bounced the ball 17 times before serving.
Shelton still managed to make the match competitive, but Zverev's consistency ultimately proved decisive. The result ended the American's bid to become the first US man since Andy Roddick in 2003 to win a Grand Slam singles title.
“I'm just getting started”
Rather than dwelling on what he missed, Shelton focused on what the run could mean for the next stage of his career. He believes the experience has left him more motivated than he was after his previous major breakthrough.
“If anything, this week has just motivated me more,” Shelton said.
“I feel like last time I had a big run in Australia I got fairly complacent after it happened and I thought that I'd really, you know, done something or got to some place and, you know, had a couple tough months after that."
This time, Shelton believes the lesson will push him in the opposite direction. “After this run, I totally have a different feeling moving forward to the rest of this year,” he said. “I'm really going to be pushing forward now and it's kind of gotten me to a place where I'm going to work that much harder.”
He also discovered more about his ability to compete under pressure, describing how he learned to remain calm while still playing with the intensity he believes is necessary at the highest level.
“I kind of found a place where I can operate and still be calm and still be clear-minded, but be a fierce competitor and get after the guy that I'm playing at the same time,” Shelton said.
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That mentality could be important as Shelton moves into the next phase of his career. The US Open run will take him to a career-high No. 4 in the ATP rankings, behind only Jannik Sinner, Zverev and Alcaraz.
And Shelton made clear that he does not intend for his first Grand Slam final to be his last. “You guys brought me to the place that I'm here today; the position that I want to be in,” Shelton said while accepting his finalist trophy. “I'm just getting started, and I'll be back here again.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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