Zverev claims US Open title but nearly misses his moment of triumph

Zverev claims US Open title but nearly misses his moment of triumph

Alexander Zverev captured his second Grand Slam title on Sunday with a commanding 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 victory over Ben Shelton at the US Open, but the German nearly missed celebrating the biggest moment of his breakthrough season.

Serving for the championship at 5-2 in the fourth set, the world No. 1 watched as the 23-year-old American's return sailed long. The match was over, but Zverev appeared unaware, stepping back behind the baseline as if preparing for another rally.

For several seconds, the 29-year-old looked towards his box for confirmation whilst the packed Arthur Ashe Stadium erupted in celebration. Only when the roar became deafening did reality sink in. Zverev finally raised his arms, broke into a smile, and began celebrating the title he had pursued for six years.

The bizarre conclusion quickly became one of the night's most memorable moments, adding an unexpected twist to Zverev's redemption story.

A season of breakthrough success

The US Open triumph capped a remarkable 2026 campaign for Zverev, who earlier claimed his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open in June. His victory over Italy's Flavio Cobolli at Roland Garros ended years of frustration in major finals and propelled him to the top of the world rankings.

Zverev's path to the US Open title included victories over several top players, with his semifinal win over Czech rising star Jakub Mensik setting up the clash with Shelton. The American, ranked world No. 9, was appearing in his first Grand Slam final after reaching a career-high ranking of No. 5 in November 2025.

The championship match, played before a capacity crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, offered a stark contrast to Zverev's previous US Open final appearance in 2020. That heartbreaking encounter against Dominic Thiem unfolded in an empty stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions and became the first US Open final decided by a fifth-set tiebreak. Thiem rallied from two sets down to win 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(6), becoming the first man in 71 years to claim the title after losing the opening two sets.

Emotional tribute to family support

In his victory speech, Zverev paid heartfelt tribute to his mother, Irina, a former professional tennis player who refused to let his type 1 diabetes diagnosis limit his aspirations.

When your 4-year-old son is diagnosed with diabetes and doctors in the office tell you that life and sports will be very limited for that child, it takes a very strong mother to say 'my son will be whatever he wants to be'

Zverev, who disclosed his condition publicly in 2022, has managed the chronic illness throughout his career using a glucose monitoring sensor and insulin injections during matches under a Therapeutic Use Exemption. He established the Alexander Zverev Foundation in 2022 alongside his brother Mischa and parents to support children with type 1 diabetes worldwide.

The German also acknowledged his father, Alexander Zverev Sr, and brother for their unwavering support throughout his journey.

We went almost 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now we've won two in a span of three months. I think God has seen how hard we've worked, how much we've suffered, how much pain we went through and I think that 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before

Overcoming past demons

Zverev's 2026 success represents a dramatic reversal of fortune after years of near-misses at the sport's biggest stages. Before his French Open breakthrough, he had reached Grand Slam finals at the 2024 French Open and 2025 Australian Open, earning a reputation as possibly the best player never to have won a major.

His journey back to the top also required overcoming a devastating ankle injury sustained during the 2022 French Open semifinal against Rafael Nadal. Trailing 7-6(8), 6-6 in a closely contested match, Zverev badly rolled his right ankle on Court Philippe Chatrier and had to be wheeled off in agony before returning on crutches to officially retire.

That traumatic moment made his 2026 French Open victory on the same court particularly poignant.

All the emotions came out, because this court is very, very special to me. It's special in a very positive way, but also special on the negative way, because I had some of the toughest moments of my life here. I was laying on this court with an injury that I didn't know if I would ever come back from

Looking ahead with confidence

Now a two-time Grand Slam champion, Zverev expressed relief that future finals will carry less psychological burden.

Now no matter what happens, I will always be a Grand Slam champion, and nobody can take that away from me

The Olympic gold medallist from Tokyo suggested that possessing a major title would ease the mental pressure in future championship matches.

For sure this trophy helps the belief a lot. That does give me some freedom. It does give me some – maybe my mind will just be a little bit calmer when I play a final, meaning that even if I lose it, I will still be a Grand Slam champion

He acknowledged that losing the French Open final might have damaged his confidence significantly, but winning it has reinforced his belief that he can succeed again at the highest level.

Zverev joked about his new status, saying it was fine if people now consider him the worst player to win a Grand Slam, but that he could not care less about such labels.

Shelton, gracious in defeat, summed up the night perfectly during the trophy presentation, telling his opponent that if anyone asked who deserved the title, he would say Zverev.

With the US Open champion earning $5.5 million from the tournament's record $108 million prize pool, Zverev can now rest on his laurels, at least temporarily, after finally conquering the demons that had haunted him for years.