Aleksander Zverev captured the US Open title on Sunday, defeating Ben Shelton to claim his second Grand Slam trophy. In a striking post-match moment, the 29-year-old briefly stayed at the baseline ready to return, unaware he had already closed out the championship. He later explained he had been so locked in that he didn’t hear the umpire and even misread the score, thinking the set was still at 5-1 rather than 6-2.
Zverev’s Journey to Success
The scene was a sharp contrast to his painful loss in the 2020 US Open final, when he served for the title in the fifth set against Dominic Thiem and fell short. Since winning his first major at Roland Garros in June and adding another in New York, Zverev, now No. 2 in the ATP rankings, says the weight of that earlier defeat has lifted and he approaches Grand Slam finals with greater freedom. He also reflected on enjoying the stage even in this summer’s Wimbledon final, which he lost.
This victory continues the strongest run of his career at the majors. After dropping his first three Grand Slam finals, Zverev has now won two of his past three and also reached the Australian Open semi-finals this season. His exceptional performance showcases not only his skill but also his resilience and determination to succeed at the highest level.
Zverev credited his progress more to sustained work than to natural gifts, pointing to years of heavy training on court, in the gym, and on the track. He emphasized the importance of hard work in achieving success, which has been a significant factor in his recent victories. Additionally, he highlighted the rise of Shelton, 23, who has collected four tour titles this year and reached his first major final, noting how much the American’s game—and particularly his backhand and consistency in longer rallies—has advanced since their earlier meetings.
As Zverev continues to build on his recent success, fans are eager to see how he will perform in the upcoming tournaments. His journey serves as an inspiration to many aspiring athletes, proving that with dedication and perseverance, greatness can be achieved.