Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton have reached the 2026 US Open men’s singles final after winning their respective semifinal matches at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
Top seed Zverev continued his strong run in the tournament by defeating Karen Khachanov in straight sets. The German won 6 3, 7 6, 7 6 in a closely contested match that featured two decisive tiebreaks.
Zverev entered the semifinal as the No. 1 seed and produced a composed performance against Khachanov. After securing the opening set 6 3, the German had to work harder in the following two sets as Khachanov increased his level and challenged him from the baseline.
The second and third sets were both decided by tiebreaks. Zverev remained calm during the crucial points and eventually completed the victory in straight sets.
The result takes Zverev back to the US Open final for the second time. He previously reached the championship match at Flushing Meadows in 2020, when he lost to Dominic Thiem after holding a two set lead.
Zverev is also enjoying a significant run in the 2026 Grand Slam season. He won the French Open earlier this year and has now reached three consecutive Grand Slam finals, according to the official US Open tournament website.
The German will now face Ben Shelton, who produced one of the biggest results of his career by defeating fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the other semifinal.
Shelton won the four set contest 4 6, 6 3, 6 3, 7 5. Tiafoe made the stronger start and took the opening set, but Shelton responded strongly and gradually took control of the match.
The 23 year old American used his powerful serve and aggressive baseline game to change the momentum. After losing the first set, Shelton won the next two sets and moved closer to his first Grand Slam final.
Tiafoe attempted to fight back in the fourth set, but Shelton held his nerve during the closing stages. He eventually secured the victory 7 5 in the fourth set and booked his place in the championship match.
The victory is particularly significant for American men’s tennis. Shelton becomes the first American man to reach the US Open singles final since Andy Roddick in 2003. His achievement also makes him the first Black American man to reach the US Open men’s singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
Shelton now has an opportunity to end a long wait for an American men’s singles Grand Slam champion. Roddick was the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title when he claimed the US Open championship in 2003.
For Shelton, the final represents another major step in a rapidly developing career. His run in New York has included a major quarterfinal victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz before the semifinal win against Tiafoe. The official US Open website described Shelton’s victory over Alcaraz as his career best win at the time.
The final will also bring together two players at different stages of their Grand Slam journeys. Zverev has already played in major finals and won the French Open this year, while Shelton will be appearing in his first Grand Slam final.
The matchup also carries an interesting head to head statistic. Zverev has won all five of his previous meetings with Shelton. However, the two players have not previously met in a Grand Slam match, and the US Open final will provide Shelton with his biggest opportunity yet to challenge the German on a major stage.
Zverev’s experience could prove important, but Shelton enters the final with considerable momentum. His victory over Alcaraz followed by the comeback win against Tiafoe has demonstrated his ability to handle high pressure situations.
The 2026 US Open men’s singles final will therefore feature a clash between Zverev’s experience and Shelton’s emerging Grand Slam credentials. The match will also guarantee a new US Open men’s singles champion, as the only former champion to reach the quarterfinals this year, Carlos Alcaraz, was eliminated by Shelton.
For Zverev, the final offers another chance to add a second Grand Slam title to his career record. For Shelton, it represents an opportunity to win his first major championship and potentially end a long drought for American men’s tennis.
The championship match is expected to be one of the most anticipated contests of the tournament, with Zverev seeking to continue his outstanding 2026 season and Shelton attempting to complete a historic breakthrough in New York.