Key events
Third set: Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (2), 4-4 *Shelton (*next server)
Shelton draws on some aggressive forehands during an 18-shot rally to win the first point of this game, but Zverev quickly counters with an overhead winner on the next point. In one of the best points of this match, Zverev fires a remarkable passing shot down the line in a 19-shot rally that Shelton lunges for in the service court and slips on to his stomach. Some good fight from the American in that game, but Zverev is not yielding yet.
Third set: *Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (2), 3-4 Shelton (*next server)
Shelton’s service games are flying by in this third set. Entering this game, they had lasted an average of 96 seconds. Shelton lobs a winner over the 6ft 6in Zverev during a 19-shot rally at 15-0 and proceeds to hold again. He has won 14 of his last 15 service points. He’ll wish he could do that sixth game over and come through on the break point, but he’ll have another chance to fight for one in this next game.
Third set: Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (2), 3-3 *Shelton (*next server)
Three Zverev misses in a row give Shelton his first chance of the entire match to break serve, and the Arthur Ashe crowd wakes up a bit. But Zverev responds with urgency and a quick backhand winner to send the game to deuce. He wins the next two points quickly and the set is even at three games all.
Third set: *Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (2), 2-3 Shelton (*next server)
Shelton opens the fifth game of this set with a nice overhead winner and comfortably holds.
Third set: Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (2), 2-2 *Shelton (*next server)
Two aces and a service winner, and Zverev holds at love in the fourth game.
Third set: *Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (2), 1-2 Shelton (*next server)
Shelton holds at love for the fifth time. Zverev still isn’t giving Shelton much pressure on his serve, so it will be up to the American to start playing more aggressive in his return games and swing the momentum of this match.
Third set: Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (2), 1-1 *Shelton (*next server)
Shelton pushes Zverev to 30-30, but the German’s serve continues to give him trouble. Zverev has won a whopping 43 of his 48 (90%) first-serve points. Shelton broke Carlos Alcaraz four times in a row in their quarter-final, but he has yet to create even one break-point opportunity here.
Third set: *Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (2), 0-1 Shelton (*next server)
Shelton holds in his first service game as this match hits the two-hour mark.
Alexander Zverev is 85-3 after winning the first two sets at majors. He is 17-1 at the US Open, with the lone loss coming in the 2020 final against Dominic Thiem.
Ben Shelton is 0-9 at grand slams after losing the first two sets.
Zverev wins the second set in a tiebreak
Second set tiebreak: Zverev 7-2 Shelton
Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (2) *Shelton (*next server)
Shelton sends a backhand into the doubles alley to give Zverev set point, and then he nets the 139mph serve to end the set. Shelton showed some of his best fight yet to force the tiebreak, but the unforced errors (29) and the inability to counter Zverev’s serve have hurt him. He has yet to create a break point in this match, and he lost every point during the tiebreak on Zverev’s serve.
Shelton has never come back from a two-sets-to-love deficit at a major.
Second set tiebreak: *Zverev 5-2 Shelton (*next server)
Zverev 6-3, 6-6 Shelton
Shelton gets his first points of the tiebreak when Zverev skies his return long and then nets a shot.
Second set tiebreak: Zverev 5-0 *Shelton (*next server)
Zverev 6-3, 6-6 Shelton
Shelton nets a 147mph (!) serve by Zverev. He can’t handle the next serve either (at 124mph) and just like that Zverev has a 5-0 advantage in the tiebreak.
Second set tiebreak: *Zverev 3-0 Shelton (*next server)
Zverev 6-3, 6-6 Shelton
Shelton wanted an ace on his first serve of the tiebreak, but the chair umpire called it a let. Zverev instead catches Shelton at the net with a winner behind him to go up 2-0, and then goes to the net himself for a short backhand winner for 3-0.
Second set tiebreak: Zverev 1-0 *Shelton (*next server)
Zverev 6-3, 6-6 Shelton
Zverev wins the first point of the tiebreak.
Second set: *Zverev 6-3, 6-6 Shelton (*next server)
Shelton wins a 19-shot rally to keep from going down 0-40 and giving Zverev triple set point, then claws back to 30-30. His net play continues to keep him in this match, and several nice volleys help him win the game and send this second set to a tiebreak.
Second set: Zverev 6-3, 6-5 *Shelton (*next server)
Shelton opens this game with a great point, but he hits a volley frustratingly long. Zverev’s forehand winner narrowly catches the line to go up 30-0, and his sixth ace of the match gives him his 61st consecutive hold against Shelton. The American will attempt to force a tiebreak.
Second set: *Zverev 6-3, 5-5 Shelton (*next server)
Zverev put some pressure on Shelton’s serve in this game, looking for a break to go up two sets to love, but Shelton holds. He gets a winner at the net (his ninth of 10 net points won) in a flash of pressure and aggressive shot-making that he’ll need more of if he wants to win this match.
Second set: Zverev 6-3, 5-4 *Shelton (*next server)
Zverev’s energy has fluctuated in the second set. He starts this ninth game with a double-fault but follows right away with a 135mph ace. He gets another ace at 129mph and calmly wins the game. Shelton is looking a bit frustrated with Zverev’s lengthy service routine – during this game, he was flipping his racket in the air as Zverev bounced the ball, waiting to get in his ready position.
Second set: *Zverev 6-3, 4-4 Shelton (*next server)
Shelton holds at love again, leaning on strong serving and his seventh ace. He played that game with more energy than he had at the start of the set, and the ace was his fastest serve of the day at 140mph. Can he put pressure on Zverev in this next game?
Second set: Zverev 6-3, 4-3 *Shelton (*next server)
Shelton is hitting some nice shots, but he’s been unable to put any real pressure on Zverev’s serve during these service games. He claws back from 0-30 down to get to 30-30 with a chance to force his first break point, but he sends a big forehand out instead of going for a volley. Zverev, who is starting to look a bit tight with five straight missed first serves, double-faults to send it to deuce. Shelton misfires during a 17-shot rally with another too-big forehand and then nets the return on the ad-point for a Zverev hold.
Second set: *Zverev 6-3, 3-3 Shelton (*next server)
Shelton wins a quick three points to start this game and gets his fifth ace, then follows with a beautiful backhand winner down the line to hold at love. That’s his first hold at love since the fifth game of the first set.
Second set: Zverev 6-3, 3-2 *Shelton (*next server)
Zverev gets his third ace of the match at 137mph. His first serve has improved (up to 74% in now) and while his second serve is still shaky (4 of 11) he won the 40-0 point of this game on it. He holds at love when Shelton sends the final backhand of a 15-shot rally long. Zverev has won all but two of the nine points that have stretched for 10 shots or longer.
Second set: *Zverev 6-3, 2-2 Shelton (*next server)
Zverev is making Shelton run the baseline and play longer rallies. Shelton wins one of those points after a 13-shot rally, but he double-faults on the point after to give Zverev a break-point chance at 30-40. Shelton saves break point and gets a hearty roar from the crowd to go to deuce. Zverev misses a nervy backhand and then nets another tight backhand for Shelton to hold.
Second set: Zverev 6-3, 2-1 *Shelton (*next server)
Zverev holds at love for the first time this match after Shelton’s forehand return on a 138mph serve bounces off the net. Shelton has 28 errors through the first 12 games. The American has climbed back from one-set-to-love deficits in both of his previous matches at this US Open, but he’ll need to find a break sooner rather than later.
Second set: *Zverev 6-3, 1-1 Shelton (*next server)
Shelton builds a 40-0 lead and looks close to holding at love in his first service game of the second set, but Zverev climbs back to force deuce. Shelton survives and finishes the game with a nice overhead winner, but that was closer than he would have liked.
Second set: Zverev 6-3, 1-0 *Shelton (*next server)
Zverev is just 1 for 8 on his second-serve points, and Shelton found success in some of those instances during the first set. He had Zverev down 15-30 during the first game of the second set and forced deuce, but Shelton’s inside-out forehand attempt on the ad-point skied out. The winner of the first set has gone on to win in 30 of the past 33 US Open men’s finals.
Zverev wins the first set 6-3
First set: *Zverev 6-3 Shelton (*next server)
Shelton closes the first set the way he closed the first game of this match: with an unfortunate double-fault into the net. He hit several shots into the net during the past few games, giving Zverev the openings in the service games that have been a strength for the American through his career.
Shelton hasn’t played a terrible set, but his baseline play hasn’t looked as sharp as it did against Carlos Alcaraz and Frances Tiafoe. He hasn’t found any break point chances during Zverev’s service games. He’ll have to climb back from this deficit.
First set: Zverev 5-3 *Shelton (*next server)
Zverev double-faults at 15-0 to give Shelton an opening, but the American mis-hits two points later at 15-30 and then can’t handle the serve at 15-40. Zverev holds and could take the set with a break.
First set: *Zverev 4-3 Shelton (*next server)
Zverev forces the first deuce point of the match, but nets a pair of returns and Shelton holds. Can Shelton get a break in this next game? He had 0-30 in the last service game and got close. But Zverev has a streak of more than 50 consecutive holds against Shelton in all matches. That’ll need to break (ha) at some point if Shelton wants to climb back.
First set: Zverev 4-2 *Shelton (*next server)
Shelton gives the match its first highlight-reel moment, showing off his athleticism with a beautiful pair of sliding volleys at the net. He’s picking on Zverev’s second serve, off of which he’s won five of six points. Zverev responds with some nice serve-and-volley play to pull back from being 0-30 down and then fires a 137mph ace to win the game.
First set: *Zverev 3-2 Shelton (*next server)
Shelton holds at love again. After getting broken in his first service game, Shelton has changed up the pace on his serve for the past two. His four successful serves in this fifth game were at 123mph, 100mph, 123mph (an ace), 104mph – slower than some of the big 130s or even 140s he was trying for in that first game. Such a strategy has worked.
First set: Zverev 3-1 *Shelton (*next server)
Zverev fires two serve attempts into the net for his first double-fault, but he holds. This game also gave us our first real glimpse at Zverev’s predilection for Extreme Ball Bouncing. He reportedly had bounced the ball before his serve more than 12,000 times through his first five matches. Shelton seems to be monitoring the situation, waiting late in the routine to get in position for his return. Commence the serve clock debates!
First set: *Zverev 2-1 Shelton (*next server)
Shelton rebounds after a shaky opening two games with a trio of strong serves that Zverev is unable to cleanly hit back. Zverev’s attempt at a return at 0-40 goes wide into the doubles alley and Shelton holds at love. Shelton won all four of those points on his first serve.
First set: Zverev 2-0 *Shelton (*next server)
A quick and comfortable hold for Zverev.
First set: *Zverev 1-0 Shelton (*next server)
Zverev gets a very, very early break. He handles Shelton’s first serve and forces the American to send a return out in the match’s opening point. The second point stretches to 16 shots – expect more of those – before Shelton nets a sliding volley. The American gets his first ace of the day at 141mph, but he double-faults on break point. His first attempt at 147mph was close enough to earn a roar from the Arthur Ashe crowd, who thought it was an ace, but he’s not quite sure how to approach his second serve yet.
Kerrith writes in with a prediction: “Zverev learnt his game playing against his lefty brother Misha (peak rank 25), the very reason why his backend is a brick wall. He’s more prepared for this matchup than people realise I think. Zverev in 3.”
Right to point out that Zverev is better suited than most to handle Shelton’s big serve. It’ll be worth watching how he lines up in the first few games to receive those serves. It does seem Zverev has the edge, but I’d like to see how far Shelton can push him. He’s significantly improved his baseline play and his own backhand from their previous meetings.
Shelton will serve to start.
The players have taken the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
When this tournament began, this would have seemed one of the more unlikely combinations to see in the final. In his opener, Ben Shelton lost the first set 1-6 to Tallon Griekspoor. Alexander Zverev was two points from a first-round exit against Lorenzo Sonego. And here we are.
Neither player is a stranger to a marathon match. The incoming Tennis Australia CEO, Andrew Abdo, suggested last month that tennis should rethink the best-of-five format for men’s grand slam matches to attract a younger audience.
Here’s what Guardian writer Andrew Lawrence has to say on that front:
Ben Shelton is 0-5 against Alexander Zverev. Zverev won in three sets at Cincinnati 2024 and in two at Munich 2025 (the final), Stuttgart 2025, Cincinnati 2025 and the 2025 ATP Finals. Shelton has won just one (1) of those 11 sets.
He’s is aware of the tall task ahead – and he’s up to take it on. After all, he had been 0-17 against top-three opponents before taking down Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-final here.
Problem-solving has been the name of the game here … I’m looking forward to the challenge, being able to problem-solve on Sunday. I know what I’m up against, and I’m also the most confident I’ve ever been in my game.
He’s also 7-2 in finals, and 4-0 in them this year. Says his coach and father Bryan Shelton:
He’s got an amazing record on Sundays. Don’t want to jinx him here, but if you look at his record throughout his career, he’s played well on Sundays.
As at every US Open final, the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd will be full of famous faces. For any eagle-eyed tennis/soccer fans wondering if Trinity Rodman will be in attendance (as she has for all of boyfriend Ben Shelton’s matches at this tournament): we probably won’t see her today.
The American soccer star is at a match of her own. Her Washington Spirit, locked in a chase for first place in the National Women’s Soccer League, are about to start the second half of their game against the Boston Legacy about five hours south in DC.
And some quotes from Ben Shelton:
We’re not done here. The job is not finished. Super excited to get another opportunity to go out there and show my best on Sunday.
This whole tournament now at this point has been unchartered territory. I’m in positions I’ve never been in before. I’ve beaten guys – beaten a guy or guys that I have never beaten before. I’m just excited to put it all out on the line.
“Hopefully I can not make the American dream come true on Sunday,” Alexander Zverev said after winning his semi-final.
More quotes:
Ben, Ben is just a big, powerful guy. Massive serve, massive groundstrokes. Everything he does is just big.
Back then [in 2020] of course, it was my first grand slam final. I was inexperienced. I was still a young guy, I would say. Yeah, just different. Everything is different. I am pretty sure that the atmosphere is going to be very, very different on Sunday as well no matter who I play, but I’m looking forward to that. I think it’s going to be a fantastic feeling playing, you know, a final in a sold-out Arthur Ashe and not in an empty one.
Will this be the day that the United States’ 23-year wait for a men’s major champion ends? Ben Shelton is having a career year. He has reached four finals – Dallas, Munich, Stuttgart and Montreal – and won the title in all of them. He is:
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The first Black American man to reach the US Open singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972
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The first Black American man to reach any grand slam singles final since MaliVai Washington at Wimbledon in 1996
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The fifth American man this century to reach the US Open singles final, joining Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Taylor Fritz
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The first American man to win tour titles on hardcourt, clay and grass in the same season since Sam Querrey in 2010
Some words from Tumaini on what to expect today:
Zverev is well suited for left-handed opponents due to the strength of his two-handed backhand, which allows him to counter the effects of their swinging serve out wide from the left advantage side as well as their crosscourt forehand from the same position.
There are plenty of reasons, however, for Shelton to be hopeful that things will be different in New York. He will remind himself of the fact that they have never faced each other in a grand slam tournament, where the American so often elevates his game, and particularly that the theme of this tournament has been breaking new ground in difficult match-ups.
Ben Shelton is in a grand slam final for the first time. His previous best result at a major was a semi-final, first at the 2023 US Open and then at the 2025 Australian Open. He had lost in the third round in New York each of the past two years.
His path this year:
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First round: beat Tallon Griekspoor 1-6 6-1 7-6 (3) 6-2
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Second round: beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-3 5-7 7-6 (3) 7-5
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Third round: beat Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (3) 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-4
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Fourth round: beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2 6-3 6-4
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Quarter-final: beat Carlos Alcaraz (2) 6-7 (5) 6-1 6-3 1-6 7-6 (7)
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Semi-final: beat Frances Tiafoe 6-4 3-6 3-6 7-5
Alexander Zverev was the winner at Roland Garros this year and runner-up at Wimbledon. This is his first US Open final since 2020, when he lost to Dominic Thiem at an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium during the coronavirus pandemic.
Here’s how he reached the final in New York this year:
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First round: beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 3-6 6-7(7) 7-5 6-4
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Second round: beat Quentin Halys 6-4 4-6 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 6-3
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Third round: beat Alejandro Tobillo (25) 6-2 7-6(2) 6-2
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Fourth round: beat Luciano Darderi (21) 6-2 6-2 7-6(3)
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Quarter-final: beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2 7-5 6-1
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Semi-final: beat Karen Khachanov 6-3 7-6 (7) 7-6 (6)
In Saturday’s women’s final, Elena Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka for her first US Open title. It was a changing of the guard, of sorts: Rybakina becomes the world No 1 on Monday, ending Sabalenka’s 99-week reign atop the rankings.
Read Tumaini Carayol’s full report here:
Preamble
Hello on this US Open final Sunday, where either Alexander Zverev or Ben Shelton will be crowned king of New York for the first time.
The top-seeded Zverev is playing in his fifth grand slam final and his third in a row this year. The German won his first major title at Roland Garros in June. This is the 29-year-old’s first appearance in the final in New York since 2020, when he lost to Dominic Thiem in a five-setter decided in a tiebreak. After opening the tournament with two matches that went five sets, Zverev has not dropped a set in four matches since and defeated Karen Khachanov in their semi-final to get here.
Shelton, the big-serving eighth seed, could make history today: an American man has not won the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2003, and a Black American man has not won it since Arthur Ashe in 1968. The 23-year-old had an arduous path through the draw to reach his first grand slam final: four of his five matches went at least four sets. His epic quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz will go down in the US Open lore for its 3.33am finish – the latest end in tournament history – and for its result. Shelton beat countryman Frances Tiafoe in the semi-final, and now has the biggest chance of his career thus far to cement himself as one of the sport’s best.
Zverev holds a 5-0 advantage in their previous meetings. (More on those later.)
The players are due on court at 2pm local time (7pm BST). Any questions, predictions, comments, find me here.
Ella will be here shortly. In the meantime, catch up with the reports on how Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton clinched their spots in today’s final:
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/sep/13/us-open-tennis-2026-mens-final-alexander-zverev-v-ben-shelton-live-updates
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