Preview US Open ATP Final | Ben Shelton bids to end 23-year wait as Alexander Zverev chases second Slam

Sunday, 13 September 2026 at 08:30

Ben Shelton clenches his fist at Montreal Canadian Open.

Ben Shelton will have the opportunity to win the biggest title of his career when he faces top seed Alexander Zverev in the 2026 US Open final on Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. The 23-year-old American is playing in his first Grand Slam final, while Zverev is contesting his sixth and second in New York, six years after his heartbreaking defeat to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 final.

Shelton booked his place in the championship match by defeating fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in an all-American semifinal. The victory came after arguably the biggest win of his career, as he defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal that finished at 3:33 a.m., the latest conclusion in US Open history.

Zverev, meanwhile, reached his third consecutive Grand Slam final after defeating Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-6(6). The German has already won his first major title at Roland Garros this season and reached the Wimbledon final, making 2026 a dramatic turnaround from the difficult period that followed his defeat in the Australian Open final at the start of 2025.

The final also carries a wider significance for American men's tennis. Shelton can become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open, ending a 23-year wait. He would also become the first Black American man to win a men's major since Arthur Ashe at the 1968 US Open.

Ben Shelton chasing his first Grand Slam

Shelton arrives in the final having produced one of the strongest runs of his career. The No. 8 seed is currently ranked No. 9 and has already won four ATP titles in 2026, including his second consecutive Canadian Open title in Montreal. That victory came without dropping a set, underlining the level of confidence he carried into New York.

His US Open run has been far more demanding. Shelton needed four sets against Tallon Griekspoor, Hubert Hurkacz and Denis Shapovalov before sweeping Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round. He then produced his career-best Grand Slam victory against Alcaraz, recovering from losing the first set to win 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7).

The American followed that with a four-set victory over Tiafoe, coming back from another opening-set loss to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. He has therefore already shown the ability to recover from difficult positions repeatedly during the fortnight. His serve remains the central weapon, but his improvements in returning and baseline stability have also been evident.

At 23, Shelton is also considerably more experienced than when he reached his first US Open semifinal in 2023. He has now won a Masters 1000 title twice in Canada and has established himself as the top-ranked American man. A Grand Slam title would represent another major step in that progression.

Ben Shelton's path to the final

Round	Opponent	Result	Score
R1	Tallon Griekspoor	W	1-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2
R2	Hubert Hurkacz	W	6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5
R3	Denis Shapovalov	W	7-6(3), 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4
R4	Stefanos Tsitsipas	W	6-2, 6-3, 6-4
QF	Carlos Alcaraz	W	6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7)
SF	Frances Tiafoe	W	4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5
F	Alexander Zverev	-	TBD

Alexander Zverev seeks first US Open title

Zverev enters the final as the top seed and with a 24-2 record in Grand Slam matches during 2026. His season has already included his maiden major title at Roland Garros and a Wimbledon final, and victory on Sunday would give him two Grand Slam titles in the same season.

The German's route to the final, however, began in difficult fashion. He was pushed to five sets by Lorenzo Sonego in the opening round and needed another five-set battle against Quentin Halys in the second. Since then, he has found considerably more control, beating Alejandro Tabilo, Luciano Darderi, Botic van de Zandschulp and Khachanov without dropping a set.

Alexander Zverev of Germany during his second round match on day 5 of the 2026 US Open

His semifinal against Khachanov was particularly important. Zverev maintained his composure through two tight tiebreaks, winning 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-6(6) to reach his second US Open final and his third consecutive Grand Slam final. He is now the seventh man in the Open Era to reach at least three consecutive major finals, joining Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

The German has already experienced the full range of emotions at this tournament. In 2020, he led Thiem by two sets before surrendering the title in five sets. Asked about his journey since that first major final, Zverev reflected on how much has changed since then.

“I think a lot has happened. I've played in a lot of other finals. I've played a lot of big matches since then. Back then, I was inexperienced.”

Six years later, he has finally broken through at Roland Garros and arrives in New York with considerably more Grand Slam experience than his opponent.

Alexander Zverev's path to the final

Round	Opponent	Result	Score
R1	Lorenzo Sonego	W	6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-4
R2	Quentin Halys	W	W, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-3
R3	Alejandro Tabilo	W	W, 6-2, 7-6(2), 6-2
R4	Luciano Darderi	W	W, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(3)
QF	Botic van de Zandschulp	W	W, 6-2, 7-5, 6-1
SF	Karen Khachanov	W,	W, 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-6(6)
F	Ben Shelton	-	TBD

Zverev holds 5-0 advantage over Shelton

The head-to-head record heavily favours Zverev, who has won all five previous meetings and dropped only one set. Their most recent encounter came at the 2025 ATP Finals, where Zverev won 6-3, 7-6(3). They have also met at the 2025 Cincinnati Open, with Zverev winning in straight sets.

That history gives Zverev an obvious tactical reference point, but this will be their first meeting at a Grand Slam. Shelton is also a substantially different player from the one Zverev faced earlier in his career, particularly after his Masters 1000 breakthrough and the improvements he has made to his return and baseline game.

Read also

The tactical battle should revolve around Shelton's ability to dictate with his left-handed serve and first ball before Zverev can establish extended baseline exchanges. The German's consistency, return quality and ability to redirect pace will test whether Shelton can maintain the aggressive positioning that has carried him through Alcaraz and Tiafoe.

Zverev, meanwhile, has the advantage of having already played five Grand Slam finals and won one. Shelton has never been in this position before. But the American has repeatedly shown during this tournament that he can handle pressure, recover from setbacks and produce his best tennis when the stakes rise.

For Zverev, the final is another opportunity to complete the transformation of his Grand Slam career. For Shelton, it is a chance to do something American men's tennis has been waiting 23 years to see: lift a major singles trophy on home soil.

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.

See author's posts

claps 0visitors 0

Aryna Sabalenka turns 99 weeks at No. 1 into a challenge for Rybakina after US Open lost: "Let's see if Elena can beat me in that"

COLUMN - The flag is already gone, finish the job as WTA should suspend Russian and Belarusian players after Yastremska apartment destruction