"When you're clueless, it helps" - Alexander Zverev explains to Carlos Alcaraz why he did not initially celebrate his US Open triumph

Alexander Zverev was triumphant at the US Open, but instead of falling onto the floor or standing there in disbelief, he returned to the baseline, ready to play the next point. There would not be another point played on Arthur Ashe as the German eventually realised he had won. Ahead of the Laver Cup, he discussed with the 2025 winner Carlos Alcaraz about what he was really going through in his mind.

The World No.2 doubled his major count in New York with a brilliant final display over Ben Shelton. The American was the first top 20 player he encountered in the whole event but disposed of him in four sets, falling back on years of experience on the big stage mixed with his class on the tennis court.

He was so focused in the final stages that he was oblivious to what the actual scoreline was. When Zverev was serving for the championship, he did not even know, thus helping him out amid the nerves bound to creep in around that time.

In a comedic moment with the two-time US Open champion Alcaraz, Zverev detailed out what was really going on in his head as he sealed glory at Flushing Meadows.

"Tell me what you were thinking... I was watching it at home and couldn't believe it," Alcaraz said. Normally competing in these big matches, he was forced to watch on TV following his quarter-final loss to Shelton.

"Absolutely nothing in my head," Zverev responded. "That's what helps, you know? When you're clueless, it helps." He had a point with Alcaraz on board. "No way, come on... but I feel like it helps a lot to play the last game without thinking."

The 29-year-old was completely off with what he thought the score was. "I thought we were up 4-1, that's why I wasn't nervous at all. If it had been 5-2, I definitely would've gotten really nervous!"

Zverev had relinquished the pressure of winning a first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros earlier this year when he was able to take down Flavio Cobolli in the final, triumphing in five sets. In similar fashion, the final in New York also finished with a flourish by Zverev, but the reactions from both events are very contrasting at first.

There is no time to rest and even let the Grand Slam success sink in. Zverev made the trip back to home soil, where he represented Germany at the Davis Cup. He helped his nation qualify for the Davis Cup Finals in November after picking up a brace of straight set wins against Matej Dodig and Dino Prizmic.

Zverev has since traversed to London, where he will once again compete in the Laver Cup, hunting for glory with Team Europe. Again set to team up with Alcaraz, the duo will lead Team Europe into the three days of action and will be pivotal if they are going to win back the treasured Laver Cup and the bragging rights that come with it.

Following that, the schedule does not get any less busy for Zverev. The Asian swing sees him competing in China twice, first at the China Open before he is set to partake in the Shanghai Masters, the penultimate Masters 1000 event of the year with the Paris Masters capping it off shortly afterwards. The big one is the ATP Finals, a competition Zverev has come out on top in twice before. Thanks to his brilliant form this year, he has already confirmed his place for Turin, but there is still a lot of tennis to be played before that becomes any concern.