The final of the 2026 US Open men’s singles tournament is set, and it will produce a brand-new champion. Top seed Alexander Zverev of Germany will meet eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton on Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The final is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET.
The Road to the Final
Alexander Zverev
Zverev enters the championship match as the No. 1 seed and one of the most accomplished players remaining in the draw. The 29-year-old German defeated Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-6(6) in the semifinals.
The victory gives Zverev his second US Open final appearance, following his heartbreaking five-set loss to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 final. He is also the reigning French Open champion and has reached three consecutive Grand Slam finals this season.
Zverev’s biggest asset will be his combination of a powerful serve, heavy groundstrokes and improved composure in pressure situations. He has also shown an ability to win tight sets without giving opponents many opportunities.
Ben Shelton
Shelton has produced the breakthrough run of the tournament.
The 23-year-old American stunned defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal and then defeated fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in the semifinals.
Shelton’s serve has been one of the defining weapons of his tournament. Against Tiafoe, he produced 20 aces, helping him recover from losing the opening set and reach his first Grand Slam final.
A victory would make Shelton the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open. It would also make him the first Black American man to win the US Open men’s singles title since Arthur Ashe in 1968.
Head-to-Head
Zverev leads Shelton 5-0 in their previous meetings. Zverev won their most recent encounter at the 2025 Cincinnati Open in straight sets. However, this will be their first meeting in a Grand Slam, and Shelton is a substantially more mature player than he was in their earlier encounters.
That history gives Zverev the statistical advantage, but it does not guarantee the German an easy afternoon.
Three Keys to Victory
1. Shelton’s serve
This could be the match’s most important weapon.
Shelton needs free points from his first serve and must avoid giving Zverev too many second-serve opportunities. If Shelton regularly reaches 70% or more on his first serve, he can put enormous scoreboard pressure on the German.
2. Zverev’s return game
Zverev must find ways to neutralize Shelton’s serve without overplaying.
If he gets enough returns back into play, the longer rallies should increasingly favor his consistency and court positioning.
3. The mental battle
Both players have enormous stakes.
For Zverev, this is another chance to finally win the US Open after his 2020 disappointment and add another major championship to his résumé.
For Shelton, it is the biggest match of his career—and potentially the moment American men’s tennis ends its long Grand Slam drought.
The Tactical Matchup
Shelton’s advantage: explosive serving, athleticism, left-handed angles and aggressive shot-making.
Zverev’s advantage: experience, return quality, defensive range, backhand consistency and experience in Grand Slam finals.
The longer the rallies become, the more important Zverev’s patience could be. Shelton, meanwhile, will want to shorten points and attack before Zverev can establish control.
Prediction
Zverev deserves to enter as the favorite because of his 5-0 record against Shelton, greater Grand Slam-final experience and outstanding form throughout the tournament.
But Shelton has already demonstrated that conventional expectations mean little at this US Open. He knocked out the defending champion and then handled the pressure of an all-American semifinal.
Prediction: Alexander Zverev wins in four sets.
Projected score: Zverev 6-4, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 Shelton.
Championship Stakes
Alexander Zverev: Seeking his second Grand Slam title and first US Open championship.
Ben Shelton: Seeking his first Grand Slam title and the end of a 23-year American men’s singles major drought.
