{"id":3467,"date":"2026-09-13T00:06:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T00:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=3467"},"modified":"2026-09-13T00:06:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T00:06:35","slug":"alexander-zverev-vs-ben-shelton-us-open-mens-singles-final-all-to-know-tennis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=3467","title":{"rendered":"Alexander Zverev vs Ben Shelton: US Open men\u2019s singles final \u2013 all to know | Tennis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Who<\/strong>: Alexander Zverev vs Ben Shelton
What<\/strong>: US Open 2026<\/a> men\u2019s singles final
Where<\/strong>: Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York, United States
When<\/strong>: Sunday, September 13, 2pm local time (18:00 GMT)<\/p>\n

How to follow<\/strong>:\u00a0We\u2019ll have all the build-up on\u00a0Al Jazeera Sport<\/a> from 11am local time (15:00 GMT) before our live text commentary stream.<\/p>\n

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Recommended Stories <\/h2>\n

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This Sunday, all American hopes will rest on Ben Shelton, who will chase history in the US Open final against top seed Alexander Zverev.<\/p>\n

It has been more than two decades since an American man won a Grand Slam singles title, and Shelton\u2019s irresistible form in New York has given his compatriots reasons to dream, even if the 23-year-old will be playing the first major championship final of his career.<\/p>\n

But Shelton knows his task will be far from easy. The big-serving youngster faces a more experienced opponent in Zverev, who only three months ago lifted his first Grand Slam title and is all set for his third straight major final.<\/p>\n

The German\u2019s dramatic turnaround from digging deep in the initial rounds to sailing through the second week has ushered him to his second US Open final, six years on from his maiden appearance.<\/p>\n

Before Sunday\u2019s sold-out clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the matchup:<\/p>\n

Who did Zverev and Shelton beat in the semifinals?<\/h2>\n

Shelton defeated<\/a> Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in an all-American semifinal on Friday, while Zverev booked his place in the final by fighting past unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (9\/7), 7-6 (8\/6).<\/p>\n

When did Zverev and Shelton last meet?<\/h2>\n

The pair last met at the 2025 ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, as Zverev beat Shelton 6-3, 7-6(6) in a round-robin clash.<\/p>\n

Shelton excited about the challenge of a maiden major final<\/h2>\n

Shelton, who took down defending champion Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> in the quarterfinals, said he is thriving in unfamiliar territory, crediting a newfound consistency for his breakthrough run at this edition.<\/p>\n

The local hope is bidding to end a 23-year American wait for a men\u2019s singles Grand Slam champion since Andy Roddick\u2019s triumph at the US Open in 2003.<\/p>\n

Shelton will also aim to become the first Black American man to capture the New York title since Arthur Ashe in 1968.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis whole tournament at this point has been uncharted territory,\u201d Shelton told reporters. \u201cI\u2019m in positions \u200cI\u2019ve never been in before. I\u2019ve beaten guys that I\u2019ve never beaten before. I\u2019m just excited to put it all out on the line.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Shelton acknowledged the nerves that come with the biggest match \u2060of his career, he said the chance to test himself against the top seed was exciting.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something you\u2019ve got to be able to overcome, but I\u2019m \u200chaving fun, you know?\u201d he added. \u201cI\u2019m playing against the number one seed, playing against a Grand Slam champion, trying to get my first.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of reasons that this is an enjoyable \u200cmoment \u200cfor me. Knowing I can leave it all on court and push myself to the absolute limit \u2026 and see what I can do is an exciting thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Everything different\u2019 as Zverev returns to US Open final<\/h2>\n

Six years after an agonising loss in the US Open final, world number two Zverev believes \u201ceverything is different\u201d as he returns to the championship match.<\/p>\n

Zverev admitted his US Open near-miss against Dominic Thiem in 2020 left scar tissue, but all the doubts have finally been dispelled with his maiden major at the French Open<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He followed that with a runner-up finish at Wimbledon<\/a>, and even though he knows he\u2019ll be in hostile territory on Sunday, he relishes the challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think a lot has happened,\u201d Zverev said. \u201cI\u2019ve played in a lot of other finals. I\u2019ve played a lot of big matches since then. Back then, of course, it was my first Grand Slam final. I was inexperienced \u2026 just different. Everything is different.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am pretty sure that the atmosphere is going to be very, very different on Sunday, as well,\u201d added the German, who played to an empty stadium in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s going to be a fantastic feeling playing a final in a sold-out Arthur Ashe and not in an empty one.\u201d<\/p>\n

How many Grand Slams has Zverev won?<\/h2>\n

Zverev, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion, has one Grand Slam title in his cabinet, having won this year\u2019s French Open<\/a> crown by beating Italy\u2019s Flavio Cobolli in five sets.<\/p>\n

How many Grand Slams has Shelton won?<\/h2>\n

None.<\/p>\n

Shelton is bidding for his maiden Grand Slam title. Before Sunday\u2019s final, his best results at the majors were semifinal appearances at the 2025 Australian Open and the 2023 US Open.<\/p>\n

What is the head-to-head record between Zverev and Shelton?<\/h2>\n

Zverev leads Shelton 5-0 in their head-to-head record, with four of those encounters coming in 2025.<\/p>\n

Their biggest encounter before Sunday\u2019s showdown goes back to the 2025 final of the ATP 500 clay-court event in Munich, which Zverev won in straight sets.<\/p>\n

History suggests that Zverev clearly has the upper hand over his American opponent, but the German has a poor record in major finals (1-4).<\/p>\n

Who is the favourite in the final?<\/h2>\n

World number nine Shelton\u2019s electric form in New York, coupled with the support of a raucous home crowd, makes him the favourite to win the 2026 US Open crown.<\/p>\n

Even though he lacks experience of playing at one of the sport\u2019s grandest stages, Shelton\u2019s performances en route to the finale speak for themselves.<\/p>\n

His ability to put up a fight and hold his nerves was best seen in his quarterfinal victory over second seed Alcaraz \u2013 a five-set epic that ended at 3:33 am in New York, the latest-ever finish for a match at the hard-court major.<\/p>\n

\"USA's
Ben Shelton is bidding to become the first American man in 23 years to win a Grand Slam singles title [Leonardo Munoz\/AFP]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What is the prize money?<\/h2>\n

The winner of the US Open men\u2019s singles final will take home $5.5m, while the runner-up will be awarded $2.8m, part of the collective $108m the tournament offered at this year\u2019s edition.<\/p>\n

Where can I watch the US Open final?<\/h2>\n

The final will be televised or livestreamed around the world by its international\u00a0broadcast\u00a0partners.<\/p>\n