NEW YORK — Atlanta native Ben Shelton came up just short of making American tennis history Sunday, falling to Alexander Zverev in the men’s final of the 2026 U.S. Open.
Zverev defeated Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, capturing his first U.S. Open championship and his second Grand Slam title of the year. Shelton fought back after dropping the opening two sets, taking the third before Zverev regained control in the fourth to close out the championship.
The loss ended Shelton’s bid to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick captured the U.S. Open in 2003. Still, the tournament marked a major milestone for the 23-year-old, who reached his first-ever Grand Slam final.
Shelton’s road to the championship match included one of the tournament’s biggest upsets. He knocked out defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in an unforgettable five-set quarterfinal that ended at 3:33 a.m., the latest finish in U.S. Open history. He then defeated fellow American Frances Tiafoe in four sets to earn his place in the final.
Although the championship trophy did not return to the United States, Shelton’s performance further established the Atlanta-born star as one of the leading names in the next generation of American men’s tennis.
For Atlanta sports fans, his run from a dramatic quarterfinal victory to competing on one of tennis’ biggest stages gave the city another hometown athlete to celebrate.
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
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