Alexander Zverev and Elena Rybakina Claim US Open Crowns in Queens
On Sept. 13 , after six years of heartbreak in the Grand Slam finals, Germany’s Alexander Zverev finally broke through, defeating the U.S.’ Ben Shelton in a four-set battle to capture the U.S. Open men’s singles title at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York.
Entering the tournament with an 0-3 record in previous major finals, Zverev said the win was a long time coming, telling his team, “I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before.”
Questions had swirled throughout the two-week event about whether he could seal the deal, and his win over the American crowd favorite Shelton put those doubts to rest.
On Sept. 12, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina settled a rivalry of her own, defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Russia in three tightly contested sets to claim the women’s title. The matchup had been building for seasons, with both Rybakina and Sabalenka being ranked second and first in the world for a period, and playing at the 2026 Australian Open final this year. In the end, Rybakina’s poise under pressure carried her through, cementing her status as one of the tour’s most dominant hard-court players.
Both Zverev and Rybakina leave New York having etched their names into tournament history, with attention now turning to whether they can defend their crown next year.
Article by Tim Polishuck