Open memories to beat American Ben Shelton 6-3 7-6(2) 5-7 6-2 in the final on Sunday (September 13, 2026), capturing the title six years after letting a golden opportunity slip through his fingers. Top seed Alexander Zverev banished bitter U.S.
The German squandered a two-set lead in the 2020 title match against Austrian Dominic Thiem but now armed with a champion’s mentality following his breakthrough triumph at Roland Garros in June, he broke American hearts with a devastating display against Shelton. The home fans were desperate to see Shelton end a 23-year American men’s Grand Slam drought but the eighth seed never found his top form in his first major final. But the German refused to get distracted, surging to a 5-0 lead in the tiebreak as the fans desperately chanted “Let’s go, Ben!
In a battle between two of tennis’ most explosive players, it was Zverev who had all the early firepower, as Shelton’s inexperience showed with a double fault on break point in the opening game. Shelton produced one of the points of the match in the sixth game, scrambling to reach a drop shot and prevailing in a tense exchange at the net. Encouraged by his team, the American mixed in serve-and-volley tactics in an attempt to shift the momentum, but the move proved ineffective and he handed Zverev the set with a double fault. The partisan crowd tried to get under Zverev’s skin in the second set, cheering wildly after he produced a double fault in the ninth game. Zverev looked like he would roll to the finish line in the third set as he saved a break point in the sixth game with a lethal backhand winner.