Zverev claims US Open title six years after final heartbreak

Alexander Zverev defeated American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 to win the US Open men's singles title. The victory comes six years after the German lost a two-set lead and served for the championship in a devastating five-set defeat to Dominic Thiem.

This time, Zverev's focus was so intense he did not immediately know he had won. After firing a final serve, he returned to the baseline to play the next point before his team informed him the match was over. "In that moment I was in the zone a lot. I didn't hear noise at all," Zverev said. "It's funny - tennis teachers always tell you to just play the next point and forget about the score."

A contrast to 2020

The win provided a direct contrast to his tearful loss in 2020. Back then, during the trophy presentation, Zverev had said, "I wish one day I can bring the trophy home." Now, his wish is fulfilled. His father and coach, Alexander senior, was on the sidelines for this victory, having missed the previous final. Zverev also paid tribute to his mother for her support after his childhood type 1 diabetes diagnosis. "When doctors tell you that life and sports will be very limited for that child, it takes a very strong mother to say 'my son will be whatever he wants to be'," Zverev stated.

Dominant serve and mental strength

Zverev's powerful serve was a key weapon against the 24,000-strong partisan crowd supporting Shelton. He won 39 of 42 points behind his first serve in the opening two sets and did not face a break point until the third set. Although Shelton broke late to take the third set, the American won only four of 20 receiving points in the fourth and final set.

Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, praised Zverev's fitness. "There is no-one as fit as Zverev, he is right up there," Bartoli said. Former British number one Annabel Croft admired his composure. "I'm so admiring of his strength of character and the zen-like state he's been in since the very beginning of the match," Croft said. She described his failure to realise he had won as "bizarre" and said he appeared to be in "a trance-like state."

The road to the final

Zverev's path to the title was arduous. He was pushed to five sets in his first two matches, finishing in the early hours of the morning in New York. He was two points from defeat in the first round but rallied and did not drop a set from the third round until the final. This victory caps his best year on tour, which included semi-finals at the Australian Open, the final at Wimbledon, and his French Open triumph in June.

Ranking and off-court controversies

The win puts the world number two within sight of the top ranking. He now trails Jannik Sinner by 1,810 points with two Masters 1000 events and the ATP Tour finals remaining. Zverev's career, however, is marked by off-court controversy. In October 2023, he was given a penalty order and fined 450,000 euros for bodily harm against an ex-partner, which he denied. A trial in May 2024 was discontinued after a week, with a separate settlement reached. The court told reporters the decision was "not a verdict and it is not a decision about guilt or innocence." He was also accused of physical violence by another former girlfriend in 2020, which he denied; no legal proceedings followed.

Zverev now has two Grand Slam titles in three months. "We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now we've won two in three months," he said after the match.