Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton are set to contest the men's singles final at the US Open on Sunday, 13 September, with the winner claiming the title at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The top-seeded German is pursuing his third consecutive Grand Slam title after capturing his maiden major at Roland Garros in June, while the eighth-seeded American is competing in his first Grand Slam final with the opportunity to make history.
Zverev's path to the final
The 29-year-old Zverev is appearing in his fifth Grand Slam final overall and his third in succession during 2026. His last appearance in a US Open final came in 2020, when he fell to Dominic Thiem in a five-set thriller decided by tiebreak. After beginning the tournament with two matches extending to five sets, Zverev has demonstrated improved form by not dropping a set across his subsequent four matches. According to reports from the tournament, his semifinal victory over Karen Khachanov lasted nearly three hours, with Zverev winning 6-3, 7-6(9-7), 7-6(8-6).
Shelton's historic opportunity
Shelton, at 23 years old, has the chance to achieve something no American man has accomplished since Andy Roddick in 2003: winning the US Open. The significance runs deeper—a Black American man has not won the championship since Arthur Ashe in 1968. Shelton's journey through the draw has been demanding, with four of his five matches extending to at least four sets. His quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz became the stuff of tournament legend, finishing at 3:33am—the latest conclusion in US Open history. In the semifinal, Shelton defeated fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 to reach his first Grand Slam final.
A milestone semifinal
The all-American semifinal between Shelton and Tiafoe marked only the second such matchup in the men's US Open over the past two decades. More notably, it was the first-ever meeting between Black men at the semifinal stage of the tournament, underscoring the historic nature of Shelton's run.
Head-to-head record
Zverev enters the final with a commanding 5-0 record against Shelton in their previous encounters, holding a significant advantage in their rivalry.
Match details and schedule
The final is scheduled to commence at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, 13 September, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. This match represents the culmination of the main draw, which began on Sunday, 30 August. The women's singles final took place the day before, on Saturday, 12 September.
What's at stake
For Zverev, victory would extend his remarkable 2026 campaign and cement his status among the sport's elite. For Shelton, a win would represent a breakthrough moment in his career, establishing him as a major force in professional tennis and fulfilling a historic narrative for American men's tennis.
