Alexander Zverev has sent a strong warning to world No 1 Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, claiming he is currently the best tennis player in the world after his US Open victory.
German Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in the final on Sunday to the bitter disappointment of the home crowd in New York.
Zverev was playing in his sixth major final and Shelton his first, and it showed in a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-2 victory that ended America’s hopes of a first male winner since Andy Roddick in 2003.
The 29-year-old has been the dominant player at the Grand Slams in a season that has seen Alcaraz, who won this year’s Australian Open, exit the US Open in a quarter-final loss to Shelton after a long injury lay-off, while Sinner withdrew injured before the start of the tournament after winning Wimbledon.
Zverev finally broke through to win his first major at the French Open, then reached the final at the All England Club, losing to Sinner.
He is 25-2 in Grand Slam matches in 2026 and Zverev believes he is currently the best in the world.
“You have to consider everything,” he said. “With Jannik Sinner getting injured and Carlos Alcaraz coming back from injury after four months, now maybe yes. Both are healthy and both at the top of their game, maybe not.
“But if we say well, right now with Jannik getting hurt and Carlos coming back from injury, maybe. I mean, four, five months ago when they were both healthy, I wasn’t. I was losing to Jannik all the time. So if everybody’s healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead. It’s that simple.”
Zverev: I forgot the score and it helped me
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Zverev explained to Sky Sports that he didn’t realize he had won the US Open as he thought the score was 5-1!
Zverev was so focused on the task at hand, he didn’t even realize he had won the title when Shelton hit a long return of serve.
As the umpire announced ‘Game, set and match Zverev’, the German returned to the baseline, ready to receive Shelton’s serve.
It took him a few seconds to register why the cheering fans were giving him a standing ovation — as he belatedly cracked a smile and ran toward the net to hug Shelton.
Speaking of Sky Sports Tennissaid: “I thought it was 5-1! I knew I had broken him twice, but I thought he only held once.”
“I was thinking, ‘Okay, I’m going to play a relaxed service game here and then I’m going to get fed up in the next game.’ It was lucky for me!
“It’s actually funny, the teachers in tennis say play every point and forget the score. Well, I forgot the score and it helped me!”
Shelton wants more of the same
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Ben Shelton ended up on the court like Zverev with this stunning backhand during the final
Shelton said he was eager to get another taste of the spotlight on tennis’ biggest stage.
“It’s such a cool moment. Walking out on that pitch today, there’s nothing like it. I’ve never felt anything like it before. Yeah, it’s an addicting feeling to be in positions like that,” the 23-year-old said.
The USTA previously pointed to Taylor Fritz’s 2024 campaign as a sign of progress after announcing a massive overhaul of its player development program in 2008.
The sport’s national governing body has also moved to diversify its talent pool in a partnership announced last year with the US Tennis Association, focusing on building black representation in an overwhelmingly white sport.
Shelton made history just by taking the court on Sunday as the first black American to play in the New York final in 54 years – since Arthur Ashe, the man for whom the tournament’s show court is named.
“I don’t think I’m close to the player I want to be. I think I’m a great competitor. I think I compete very well out there on the court,” Shelton said.
“I’m able to stay focused and stay out there on the field for many, many hours. I think that will help me in the future moving forward.”
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Shelton thought he hit a 158 mph serve in the US Open semifinals, but it was actually 144 mph according to Hawk-Eye
Henman: Zverev has transformed from a player who was going backwards a year ago
“The tenacity and the way Zverev’s game has improved over the last 12 months,” said the 2004 US Open semi-finalist.
“I was watching his Grand Slam results and his game was going backwards.
“But he has transformed himself to be more aggressive and when you reflect on this match, Zverev had beaten Shelton five times in a row.
“Shelton needed to change the narrative, but Zverev looked so comfortable.
“Shelton did a great job of taking the third set, but losing his first serve in the fourth game put Zverev down and gave him more energy. He coasted from there.”
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