Alexander Zverev won the 2026 US Open, defeating Ben Shelton 6-3 7(7)-6(2) 5-7 6-2 to claim his second Grand Slam title and cap what the ATP framed as a transformational year. The top-seeded German stayed composed throughout the final, weathering Shelton's resistance in the third set—where the American mounted a brief threat at 6-5, one game from defeat—before reasserting control to end American hopes of a rare home champion. Zverev's victory marked a remarkable resurgence six years after heartbreak in a previous final, and the win carried a record-breaking financial windfall for the champion.
The final was not without controversy: Shelton joined other players in criticising Zverev's prolonged second serve routine, with commentators including John McEnroe renewing calls for stricter time-in-aid rules. Off court, the week also brought a significant development in the players' long-running dispute with the Slams over revenue sharing: leading players announced an end to their public protest campaign after an 18-month battle, now pivoting to a newly formed Grand Slam Player Advisory Council for direct negotiations. Attention shifts to the WTA next, with the 2026 Guadalajara event beginning this week.