Key events<\/p>\n
Second set: Zverev 6-3, 4-3 *Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n
Shelton is hitting some nice shots, but he\u2019s been unable to put any real pressure on Zverev\u2019s serve during these service games. He claws back from 0-30 down to get to 30-30 with a chance to force his first break point, but he sends a big forehand out instead of going for a volley. Zverev, who is starting to look a bit tight with five straight missed first serves, double-faults to send it to deuce. Shelton misfires during a 17-shot rally with another too-big forehand and then nets the return on the ad-point for a Zverev hold.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.40 EDT<\/p>\n Second set: *Zverev 6-3, 3-3 Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n Shelton wins a quick three points to start this game and gets his fifth ace, then follows with a beautiful backhand winner down the line to hold at love. That\u2019s his first hold at love since the fifth game of the first set.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.33 EDT<\/p>\n Second set: Zverev 6-3, 3-2 *Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n Zverev gets his third ace of the match at 137mph. His first serve has improved (up to 74% in now) and while his second serve is still shaky (4 of 11) he won the 40-0 point of this game on it. He holds at love when Shelton sends the final backhand of a 15-shot rally long. Zverev has won all but two of the nine points that have stretched for 10 shots or longer.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Second set: *Zverev 6-3, 2-2 Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n Zverev is making Shelton run the baseline and play longer rallies. Shelton wins one of those points after a 13-shot rally, but he double-faults on the point after to give Zverev a break-point chance at 30-40. Shelton saves break point and gets a hearty roar from the crowd to go to deuce. Zverev misses a nervy backhand and then nets another tight backhand for Shelton to hold.<\/p>\n Alexander Zverev. Photograph: Robert Deutsch\/IMAGN IMAGES\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.24 EDT<\/p>\n Second set: Zverev 6-3, 2-1 *Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n Zverev holds at love for the first time this match after Shelton\u2019s forehand return on a 138mph serve bounces off the net. Shelton has 28 errors through the first 12 games. The American has climbed back from one-set-to-love deficits in both of his previous matches at this US Open, but he\u2019ll need to find a break sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Second set: *Zverev 6-3, 1-1 Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n Shelton builds a 40-0 lead and looks close to holding at love in his first service game of the second set, but Zverev climbs back to force deuce. Shelton survives and finishes the game with a nice overhead winner, but that was closer than he would have liked.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Second set: Zverev 6-3, 1-0 *Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n Zverev is just 1 for 8 on his second-serve points, and Shelton found success in some of those instances during the first set. He had Zverev down 15-30 during the first game of the second set and forced deuce, but Shelton\u2019s inside-out forehand attempt on the ad-point skied out. The winner of the first set has gone on to win in 30 of the past 33 US Open men\u2019s finals.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Zverev wins the first set 6-3<\/p>\n First set: *Zverev 6-3 Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n Shelton closes the first set the way he closed the first game of this match: with an unfortunate double-fault into the net. He hit several shots into the net during the past few games, giving Zverev the openings in the service games that have been a strength for the American through his career.<\/p>\n Shelton hasn\u2019t played a terrible set, but his baseline play hasn\u2019t looked as sharp as it did against Carlos Alcaraz and Frances Tiafoe. He hasn\u2019t found any break point chances during Zverev\u2019s service games. He\u2019ll have to climb back from this deficit.<\/p>\n Ben Shelton fiddles with his racket after the first set. Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.08 EDT<\/p>\n First set: Zverev 5-3 *Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n Zverev double-faults at 15-0 to give Shelton an opening, but the American mis-hits two points later at 15-30 and then can\u2019t handle the serve at 15-40. Zverev holds and could take the set with a break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First set: *Zverev 4-3 Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n Zverev forces the first deuce point of the match, but nets a pair of returns and Shelton holds. Can Shelton get a break in this next game? He had 0-30 in the last service game and got close. But Zverev has a streak of more than 50 consecutive holds against Shelton in all matches. That\u2019ll need to break (ha) at some point if Shelton wants to climb back.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First set: Zverev 4-2 *Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n Shelton gives the match its first highlight-reel moment, showing off his athleticism with a beautiful pair of sliding volleys at the net. He\u2019s picking on Zverev\u2019s second serve, off of which he\u2019s won five of six points. Zverev responds with some nice serve-and-volley play to pull back from being 0-30 down and then fires a 137mph ace to win the game.<\/p>\n Germany’s Alexander Zverev in action. Photograph: Mike Segar\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.51 EDT<\/p>\n First set: *Zverev 3-2 Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n Shelton holds at love again. After getting broken in his first service game, Shelton has changed up the pace on his serve for the past two. His four successful serves in this fifth game were at 123mph, 100mph, 123mph (an ace), 104mph \u2013 slower than some of the big 130s or even 140s he was trying for in that first game. Such a strategy has worked.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First set: Zverev 3-1 *Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n Zverev fires two serve attempts into the net for his first double-fault, but he holds. This game also gave us our first real glimpse at Zverev\u2019s predilection for Extreme Ball Bouncing. He reportedly had bounced<\/a> the ball before his serve more than 12,000 times through his first five matches. Shelton seems to be monitoring the situation, waiting late in the routine to get in position for his return. Commence the serve clock debates!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.47 EDT<\/p>\n First set: *Zverev 2-1 Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n Shelton rebounds after a shaky opening two games with a trio of strong serves that Zverev is unable to cleanly hit back. Zverev\u2019s attempt at a return at 0-40 goes wide into the doubles alley and Shelton holds at love. Shelton won all four of those points on his first serve.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.30 EDT<\/p>\n First set: Zverev 2-0 *Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n A quick and comfortable hold for Zverev.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First set: *Zverev 1-0 Shelton (*next server)<\/p>\n Zverev gets a very, very early break. He handles Shelton\u2019s first serve and forces the American to send a return out in the match\u2019s opening point. The second point stretches to 16 shots \u2013 expect more of those \u2013 before Shelton nets a sliding volley. The American gets his first ace of the day at 141mph, but he double-faults on break point. His first attempt at 147mph was close enough to earn a roar from the Arthur Ashe crowd, who thought it was an ace, but he\u2019s not quite sure how to approach his second serve yet.<\/p>\n Alexander Zverev stretches to hit a return to Ben Shelton. Photograph: Corey Sipkin\/UPI\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.37 EDT<\/p>\n Kerrith writes in with a prediction: \u201cZverev learnt his game playing against his lefty brother Misha (peak rank 25), the very reason why his backend is a brick wall. He\u2019s more prepared for this matchup than people realise I think. Zverev in 3.\u201d<\/p>\n Right to point out that Zverev is better suited than most to handle Shelton\u2019s big serve. It\u2019ll be worth watching how he lines up in the first few games to receive those serves. It does seem Zverev has the edge, but I\u2019d like to see how far Shelton can push him. He\u2019s significantly improved his baseline play and his own backhand from their previous meetings.<\/p>\n Shelton will serve to start.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The players have taken the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.<\/p>\n When this tournament began, this would have seemed one of the more unlikely combinations to see in the final. In his opener, Ben Shelton lost the first set 1-6 to Tallon Griekspoor. Alexander Zverev<\/a> was two points from a first-round exit against Lorenzo Sonego. And here we are.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Neither player is a stranger to a marathon match. The incoming Tennis<\/a> Australia CEO, Andrew Abdo, suggested last month that tennis should rethink the best-of-five format for men\u2019s grand slam matches to attract a younger audience.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what Guardian writer Andrew Lawrence has to say on that front:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ben Shelton is 0-5 against Alexander Zverev<\/a>. Zverev won in three sets at Cincinnati 2024 and in two at Munich 2025 (the final), Stuttgart 2025, Cincinnati 2025 and the 2025 ATP Finals. Shelton has won just one (1) of those 11 sets.<\/p>\n He\u2019s is aware of the tall task ahead \u2013 and he\u2019s up to take it on. After all, he had been 0-17 against top-three opponents before taking down Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-final here.<\/p>\n double quotation markProblem-solving has been the name of the game here \u2026 I\u2019m looking forward to the challenge, being able to problem-solve on Sunday. I know what I\u2019m up against, and I\u2019m also the most confident I\u2019ve ever been in my game.<\/p>\n He\u2019s also 7-2 in finals, and 4-0 in them this year. Says his coach and father Bryan Shelton:<\/p>\n double quotation markHe\u2019s got an amazing record on Sundays. Don\u2019t want to jinx him here, but if you look at his record throughout his career, he\u2019s played well on Sundays.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.04 EDT<\/p>\n As at every US Open final, the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd will be full of famous faces. For any eagle-eyed tennis\/soccer fans wondering if Trinity Rodman will be in attendance (as she has for all of boyfriend Ben Shelton\u2019s matches at this tournament): we probably won\u2019t see her today.<\/p>\n The American soccer star is at a match of her own. Her Washington Spirit, locked in a chase for first place in the National Women\u2019s Soccer League, are about to start the second half of their game against the Boston Legacy about five hours south in DC.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.12 EDT<\/p>\n And some quotes from Ben Shelton:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019re not done here. The job is not finished. Super excited to get another opportunity to go out there and show my best on Sunday.<\/p>\n double quotation markThis whole tournament now at this point has been unchartered territory. I\u2019m in positions I\u2019ve never been in before. I\u2019ve beaten guys \u2013 beaten a guy or guys that I have never beaten before. I\u2019m just excited to put it all out on the line.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHopefully I can not make the American dream come true on Sunday,\u201d Alexander Zverev<\/a> said after winning his semi-final.<\/p>\n More quotes:<\/p>\n double quotation markBen, Ben is just a big, powerful guy. Massive serve, massive groundstrokes. Everything he does is just big.<\/p>\n double quotation markBack then [in 2020] of course, it was my first grand slam final. I was inexperienced. I was still a young guy, I would say. Yeah, just different. Everything is different. I am pretty sure that the atmosphere is going to be very, very different on Sunday as well no matter who I play, but I\u2019m looking forward to that. I think it\u2019s going to be a fantastic feeling playing, you know, a final in a sold-out Arthur Ashe and not in an empty one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Will this be the day that the United States\u2019 23-year wait for a men\u2019s major champion ends? Ben Shelton is having a career year. He has reached four finals \u2013 Dallas, Munich, Stuttgart and Montreal \u2013 and won the title in all of them. He is:<\/p>\n The first Black American man to reach the US Open singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972<\/p>\n The first Black American man to reach any grand slam singles final since MaliVai Washington at Wimbledon in 1996<\/p>\n The fifth American man this century to reach the US Open singles final, joining Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Taylor Fritz<\/p>\n The first American man to win tour titles on hardcourt, clay and grass in the same season since Sam Querrey in 2010<\/p>\n A shot of Arthur Ashe Stadium before Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe\u2019s semi-final on Friday. Photograph: Eduardo Mu\u00f1oz\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Some words from Tumaini on what to expect today:<\/p>\n double quotation markZverev is well suited for left-handed opponents due to the strength of his two-handed backhand, which allows him to counter the effects of their swinging serve out wide from the left advantage side as well as their crosscourt forehand from the same position.<\/p>\n double quotation markThere are plenty of reasons, however, for Shelton to be hopeful that things will be different in New York. He will remind himself of the fact that they have never faced each other in a grand slam tournament, where the American so often elevates his game, and particularly that the theme of this tournament has been breaking new ground in difficult match-ups.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ben Shelton is in a grand slam final for the first time. His previous best result at a major was a semi-final, first at the 2023 US Open and then at the 2025 Australian Open. He had lost in the third round in New York each of the past two years.<\/p>\n His path this year:<\/p>\n First round: beat Tallon Griekspoor 1-6 6-1 7-6 (3) 6-2<\/p>\n Second round: beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-3 5-7 7-6 (3) 7-5<\/p>\n Third round: beat Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (3) 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-4<\/p>\n Fourth round: beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2 6-3 6-4<\/p>\n Quarter-final: beat Carlos Alcaraz (2) 6-7 (5) 6-1 6-3 1-6 7-6 (7)<\/p>\n Semi-final: beat Frances Tiafoe 6-4 3-6 3-6 7-5<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alexander Zverev was the winner at Roland Garros this year and runner-up at Wimbledon. This is his first US Open final since 2020, when he lost to Dominic Thiem at an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium during the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how he reached the final in New York this year:<\/p>\n First round: beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 3-6 6-7(7) 7-5 6-4<\/p>\n Second round: beat Quentin Halys 6-4 4-6 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 6-3<\/p>\n Third round: beat Alejandro Tobillo (25) 6-2 7-6(2) 6-2<\/p>\n Fourth round: beat Luciano Darderi (21) 6-2 6-2 7-6(3)<\/p>\n Quarter-final: beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2 7-5 6-1<\/p>\n Semi-final: beat Karen Khachanov 6-3 7-6 (7) 7-6 (6)<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Elena Rybakina holds her trophy. Photograph: Sarah Yenesel\/EPA<\/p>\n In Saturday\u2019s women\u2019s final, Elena Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka for her first US Open title. It was a changing of the guard, of sorts: Rybakina becomes the world No 1 on Monday, ending Sabalenka\u2019s 99-week reign atop the rankings.<\/p>\n Read Tumaini Carayol\u2019s full report here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.42 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n Hello on this US Open final Sunday, where either Alexander Zverev<\/a> or Ben Shelton will be crowned king of New York for the first time.<\/p>\n The top-seeded Zverev is playing in his fifth grand slam final and his third in a row this year. The German won his first major title at Roland Garros in June. This is the 29-year-old\u2019s first appearance in the final in New York since 2020, when he lost to Dominic Thiem in a five-setter decided in a tiebreak. After opening the tournament with two matches that went five sets, Zverev has not dropped a set in four matches since and defeated Karen Khachanov in their semi-final to get here.<\/p>\n Shelton, the big-serving eighth seed, could make history today: an American man has not won the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2003, and a Black American man has not won it since Arthur Ashe in 1968. The 23-year-old had an arduous path through the draw to reach his first grand slam final: four of his five matches went at least four sets. His epic quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz will go down in the US Open lore for its 3.33am finish \u2013 the latest end in tournament history \u2013 and for its result. Shelton beat countryman Frances Tiafoe in the semi-final, and now has the biggest chance of his career thus far to cement himself as one of the sport\u2019s best.<\/p>\n Zverev holds a 5-0 advantage in their previous meetings. (More on those later.)<\/p>\n The players are due on court at 2pm local time (7pm BST). Any questions, predictions, comments, find me here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ella will be here shortly. In the meantime, catch up with the reports on how Alexander Zverev<\/a> and Ben Shelton clinched their spots in today\u2019s final:<\/p>\n