Zverev Wins US Open, Dedicates Title to Mother

Alexander Zverev won the 2026 US Open men's singles title on Sunday, defeating American Ben Shelton in a four-set final at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 29-year-old German secured his first US Open crown and his second Grand Slam title of the year, following his victory at the French Open in June. Zverev, the top seed, beat Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in a match lasting three hours and 33 minutes. He controlled the opening set and survived a tiebreak in the second to take a commanding lead. Shelton, the eighth seed, fought back to win the third set 7-5, energizing the home crowd, but Zverev regained control and closed out the fourth set 6-2. During the trophy presentation, Zverev delivered an emotional speech dedicated to his mother, Irina Zvereva. He recounted being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age four and the prognosis from doctors. "When your four-year-old son gets diagnosed with diabetes and doctors in the office tell you that life and sports will be very, very limited for that child, it takes a very, very strong mother to walk out of those offices and to say my son will be whatever he wants to be," Zverev said.