Shelton and Zverev set up contrasting Grand Slam narratives
Shelton and Zverev reach US Open final as breakthrough and serial finalist face off.
Event / Sports
US Open Tennis 2026
Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a historic quarterfinal match that ended at 3:33 AM, the latest finish in tournament history. The five-set victory marked Shelton's breakthrough win against a top-3 ranked player and ended Alcaraz's 18-match Grand Slam winning streak.
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2026-09-09 to 2026-11-06 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 9 Sept, 18:31 UTC
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What happened
Zverev wins first Grand Slam after multiple final losses
Zverev won his first Grand Slam title at Roland-Garros in June 2026 after previous Grand Slam final defeats: at the 2020 US Open against Dominic Thiem, at the 2024 Roland-Garros against Carlos Alcaraz, and at the 2025 Australian Open against Jannik Sinner.
Alexander Zverev wins US Open tennis championship
German tennis player Alexander Zverev won the US Open men's singles title, defeating American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-2 in the final. This was Zverev's second Grand Slam title of 2026, following his victory at Roland-Garros in June.
Zverev reaches third consecutive Grand Slam final
Alexander Zverev competed in his third consecutive Grand Slam final, having won Roland-Garros, lost at Wimbledon to Jannik Sinner, and won at the US Open.
Ben Shelton reaches first Grand Slam final at age 23
American tennis player Ben Shelton, ranked 9th, reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open at age 23. Shelton could have become the first American man to win a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick in 2003, but lost to Zverev in the final.
Alexander Zverev defeats Ben Shelton in US Open men's singles final
Alexander Zverev won the US Open men's singles final by defeating Ben Shelton in four sets on September 13, 2026. This was Zverev's second major title.
Ben Shelton reaches US Open final, falls short of first American men's singles title since 2003
Ben Shelton, world number 5 from Florida, reached the US Open men's singles final in 2026. He defeated Frances Tiafoe in the semi-final in four sets and earlier defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set match. Had he won the final, he would have been the first American man to win the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2003, ending a 23-year drought for American men in US Open singles titles.
Alexander Zverev wins 2026 French Open men's singles title
Alexander Zverev, the number 1 seed at the US Open, won the French Open earlier in 2026.
U.S. Open marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 attacks with ceremony
A ceremony was held at the U.S. Open to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, during which a giant American flag was unfurled across the court.
Ben Shelton defeats Frances Tiafoe in U.S. Open semifinal
Ben Shelton, seeded No. 8, defeated Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in the U.S. Open men's singles semifinal on Friday. Shelton advanced to his first Grand Slam final.
Ben Shelton eliminated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in latest U.S. Open finish
Ben Shelton defeated defending U.S. Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinal in a match that ended Wednesday at 3:33 a.m., the latest finish ever at the U.S. Open.
Alexander Zverev defeats Karen Khachanov in U.S. Open semifinal
Alexander Zverev, the No. 1 seed, defeated Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6) in the first U.S. Open men's singles semifinal. Zverev has won 13 consecutive sets.
Alexander Zverev won 2024 French Open
Alexander Zverev broke through at the major championship level by winning the French Open in 2024. He is 24-2 in Grand Slam matches in the 2026 season and reached the Wimbledon final where he lost to Jannik Sinner.
Ben Shelton to face Alexander Zverev in U.S. Open final
Ben Shelton will play No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev in the U.S. Open men's singles final on Sunday. A victory would give the United States its first men's Grand Slam champion since Andy Roddick won the U.S. Open in 2003.
United States guaranteed representation in US Open men's final
The United States is guaranteed to have a representative in Sunday's US Open final between Shelton and Tiafoe, as the country seeks its first men's major title since Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003.
Ben Shelton advances to US Open semifinal
Ben Shelton advanced to the US Open semifinal and will face fellow American Frances Tiafoe on Friday.
Ben Shelton defeats Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) in US Open quarterfinal
Ben Shelton defeated seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal match at the US Open with a final score of 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7). The match ended at 3:33 a.m. on Wednesday and lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes.
Alcaraz's 18-match Grand Slam winning streak ends
Carlos Alcaraz's winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments was ended at 18 consecutive matches by the loss to Ben Shelton in the US Open quarterfinal.
Shelton defeats Alcaraz for first time in their head-to-head rivalry
Ben Shelton's victory over Carlos Alcaraz was his first win against the Spaniard. Alcaraz had previously defeated Shelton in three consecutive matches, including their most recent meeting at Roland Garros in 2025.
Latest-finishing match in US Open history
The Shelton-Alcaraz match became the latest-finishing match in US Open history, surpassing the previous record set when Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner at 2:50 a.m. during the 2022 quarterfinals.
Alcaraz won seventh Grand Slam title at 2026 Australian Open
Carlos Alcaraz won his seventh Grand Slam title at the 2026 Australian Open before his wrist injury.
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2 alternative perspectives
Zverev wins first Grand Slam title at US Open
Zverev captures his first Grand Slam title by winning the US Open championship.
Zverev captures French Open title in dominant Grand Slam performance
Zverev wins 2026 French Open men's singles title in Paris.
Zverev claims US Open title, denies Shelton American breakthrough
Zverev defeats Shelton in US Open final; American's historic title bid falls short.
US Open honors 25 years since 9/11 attacks with ceremony
US Open honors 25-year anniversary of 9/11 attacks with ceremony in New York.
Shelton to face Zverev in US Open final matchup
Shelton faces Zverev in the US Open final after semifinal victories.
Shelton and Tiafoe guarantee American presence in US Open final
Shelton and Tiafoe's US Open semifinals guarantee an American men's champion.
Shelton defeats Alcaraz in five-set epic to reach semifinal
Shelton defeats Alcaraz in latest-finishing US Open match, ending 18-match Grand Slam streak.
Alcaraz returns to competition following wrist injury
Alcaraz returns to competition after wrist injury at US Open.
Shelton stuns Alcaraz to reach US Open semifinals
Shelton defeats Alcaraz at US Open quarterfinals, ending his 18-match Grand Slam streak and advancing to semifinals.