Zverev vs Shelton: What to know about the 2026 US Open men’s final

# Quick summary Ben Shelton, 23, faces Alexander Zverev in the 2026 US Open men's singles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Shelton is playing his first Grand Slam final and is the American hope to end a 23-year wait for a US men's singles champion. Zverev is the top seed, a recent Grand Slam winner, and carries more big-match experience.

# The matchup in plain terms

# Recent form and route to the final

• Shelton: Beat Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in an all-American semifinal. He reached this final after a tournament run that included defeating Alcaraz in the quarterfinals and earlier major semifinal appearances at the 2025 Australian Open and the 2023 US Open.
• Zverev: Beat unseeded Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (8/6) in his semifinal. He won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open earlier in the year and followed that with a Wimbledon runner-up finish, giving him a run of deep major form.

# Records and milestones on the line Shelton can become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick in 2003 and the first Black American man to win the US Open since Arthur Ashe in 1968. Zverev is aiming to add a second Grand Slam title to the one he won this year at Roland-Garros.

# Key tactical matchups to watch

• Shelton described the event as "uncharted territory" and said he was excited to test himself against the No. 1 seed and a Grand Slam champion.
• Zverev said he was a different player compared with six years ago when he lost a US Open final, noting more experience and a different atmosphere now that the stadium is sold out.

# What to expect on the day

# Bottom line Shelton supplies power, youth and the motivation of a nation that hasn't had a men's Grand Slam singles winner in over two decades. Zverev supplies experience, recent major-winning form and a cleaner record in big matches. The final will hinge on who handles the moment better and who can impose their preferred style under the Arthur Ashe lights.