US Open 2026 results: Alexander Zverev, Elena Rybakina win singles titles

NEW YORK — Alexander Zverev captured the 2026 US Open singles title by defusing a partisan pro-American crowd and weathering Ben Shelton’s late-match surge inside a closed-roof Arthur Ashe Stadium, securing a 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 victory. The triumph extended the twenty-three-year Grand Slam drought for American men on the singles stage, leaving Andy Roddick as the last home-country player to hoist a major trophy in New York in 2003, as reported by CBS Sports.

Top-seeded Zverev relied on cold tactical precision and an impenetrable service game to stifle the eighth-seeded Shelton, whose electric underdog run had captivated New York crowds throughout the fortnight. While a star-studded audience featuring NBA champion Jalen Brunson and soccer star Trinity Rodman roared in support of the twenty-three-year-old American, Zverev systematically dismantled his opponent's tactical options across the opening two sets before reclaiming authority in the fourth.

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The financial stakes for both singles champions reached historic heights. According to the Bendigo Advertiser, Zverev and women's singles champion Elena Rybakina each claimed $5.5 million payouts, matching the largest prize money in Grand Slam history following a 20% purse increase. Rybakina earned her third career major and secured the WTA world No. 1 ranking by defeating top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Saturday, ending Sabalenka's ninety-nine-week reign at the summit (CBS Sports).

Serving Dominance and Tactical Neutralization

Zverev's path to the championship hinged on absolute mastery of his service games. CBS Sports reported that the German top seed faced only one break point during the entire match and carried a streak of 67 consecutive service games held against Shelton before the American finally broke through in the twelfth game of the third set. Zverev's deep return position consistently defanged Shelton's explosive left-handed delivery, forcing the American to win just three points on Zverev's first serve across the early exchanges.

Player	Seed	Tournament Result	Key Match Milestone
Alexander Zverev	No. 1	Champion	Won second major of 2026; 67 straight service-game streak
Ben Shelton	No. 8	Runner-up	First American man in a US Open final since 2003
Elena Rybakina	No. 2	Champion (Women's)	Claimed third career major and WTA No. 1 ranking
Aryna Sabalenka	No. 1	Runner-up (Women's)	Streak of 99 consecutive weeks at No. 1 ended

Shelton arrived in the final after a grueling fortnight that included a historic quarterfinal victory over Carlos Alcaraz ending at 3:33 a.m., followed by a four-set semifinal win over compatriot Frances Tiafoe (Bendigo Advertiser, CBS Sports). That semifinal marked the first time two Black American men met in a Grand Slam semifinal, with Shelton striving to become the first Black player to win the tournament's men's crown since Arthur Ashe in 1968 (CBS Sports, Bendigo Advertiser).

Atmosphere and Celebrity Presence

Arthur Ashe Stadium pulsed with partisan energy as celebrities and athletes turned out to back the home favorite. The Daily Mail noted that New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson attended courtside alongside teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart, fresh off receiving a public shoutout from Harry Styles during a sold-out Madison Square Garden concert. Trinity Rodman, the Washington Spirit star and NWSL's highest-paid player, made a late dash from her own match to support Shelton in his player box, drawing a lighthearted on-court mention from Zverev during the trophy presentation (The Daily Mail).

Recognizing the overwhelming partisan environment, Zverev offered a candid apology during his victory speech.

"I know today 99.9 per cent of the people wanted Ben to win, so I'm very sorry first of all,"

Alexander Zverev, US Open champion, via Bendigo Advertiser

He quickly praised the spectators, adding that even though I know that the crowd was against me, the crowd was always incredibly fair (Bendigo Advertiser).

Redemption and Emotional Aftermath

For Zverev, the victory served as ultimate professional redemption following years of physical and mental hardship. The German reflected on his devastating 2020 US Open final collapse, where he squandered a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem, as well as his runner-up finish to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon earlier in the season (Bendigo Advertiser, CBS Sports). Addressing his coaching team and family in tears, Zverev attributed his resilience to accumulated perseverance:

"I think God has seen how hard we worked, how much we suffered, how much pain we went through and I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before."

Alexander Zverev, US Open champion, via Bendigo Advertiser

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the exact score of the 2026 US Open men's singles final?

Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 (CBS Sports).

How much prize money did the singles champions receive?

Both men's champion Alexander Zverev and women's champion Elena Rybakina earned $5.5 million each following a 20% year-over-year increase in the tournament purse (Bendigo Advertiser).

Who was the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title before Shelton's run?

Andy Roddick remains the last American man to win a major singles title, having done so at the 2003 US Open (CBS Sports).

As match point arrived, Zverev was so deeply immersed in his tactical zone that he initially dropped back behind the baseline as if preparing to return another serve, unaware the match had concluded until a few moments passed (Bendigo Advertiser).