The drought continues.
The American men were reminded time after time about how long it’s been since a fellow countryman won the U.S. Open.
This year, though, seemed like their best chance to end the ugly 23-year drought.
Five American men entered the second weekend of the Open — Learner Tien, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Alex Michelsen and Tommy Paul.
Shelton, seeded No. 8 shined the brightest over these two weeks, and carried the torch — one that he claimed not to care too much about — to the Open final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
New York. New Sascha. 🗽
Six years on from final heartbreak, Alexander Zverev is a US Open champion at last! pic.twitter.com/MojOJG3HdK
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 13, 2026
But it was there, on Championship Sunday, when the light finally dimmed at the hands of Germany’s Alexander Zverev.
The ATP’s top-ranked player defeated Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 on Sunday to win the U.S. Open title for the first time in his career.
“Feels amazing, especially with the heartbreak I had in 2020 here,” said Zverev, who lost in heartbreaking fashion to Dominic Thiem six years ago. “To finally lift this trophy is is an amazing feeling.”
In doing so, he knocked off Shelton, who made his first major final appearance of his four-year pro career. And it keeps Andy Roddick as the last American man to win here in Queens (2003).
Zverev dominated throughout and finished the match on his own racquet. It was all business. He remained cool throughout the match, which lasted three hours and 33 minutes, despite the crowd doing all it could to carry Shelton to the upset win.
So cool that he appeared unaware that Shelton’s return had landed out on championship point to win him the match.
“I thought it was 5-1, actually. I knew I broke him twice, but I thought it was it was 5-1 instead of 6-2, which helped me in a way because I didn’t really get nervous serving out the match,” Zverev said.
The Open champion said he was “in the zone a lot,” which helped him block out fan noise as he approached championship point.
“And then also, of course, when the crowd is loud, it’s impossible to hear the umpire. So I didn’t hear that she said game set match,” he said.
The finish was clinical, with the now two-time major winner — Zverev won the French Open in June — going 12-2 in the last points to claim the trophy.
Shelton on the other hand was well aware of the loss — shown in the redness and sadness in his face after being unable to capitalize on a comeback attempt initially spurred by a spirited third set.
In that set, Shelton gained some traction after succumbing to Zverev’s service games and timely returns to keep the American at bay.
At first, Shelton appeared to lose momentum and a chance to secure a set going up 4-3 with the score 30-30.
PURE THEATER ON ASHE! 🎭 pic.twitter.com/U21qcK2me9
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 13, 2026
The two engaged in a 19-shot rally as Shelton fired shot after shot before going for a winner at the net that would’ve set up break point. But, Shelton slipped and fell onto the hardcourt as Zverev’s backhand bounced inside the line.
It was an opportunity that fans watched Shelton convert repeatedly over the two weeks. However, such opportunities on Saturday came up empty in the loss.
But the American’s success at the net won him the third set to recover from a second he let slip in a tiebreak.
By that time, fatigue set in, Shelton admitted. And it became even clearer that what looked like a perfect opportunity for an American to come through in Queens started to fade.
“Yeah, he’s a tough guy to play, 100 percent,” Shelton said. “I started to figure some things out in the third set. Yeah, I was pissed. I was kind of tired at the end of the match.”
The draw looked a bit lighter with five-time major winner Jannik Sinner withdrawing due to a right knee injury and Carlos Alcaraz participating in his first action since April due to a wrist injury.
Then the tournament opened with four-time Open champ Novak Djokovic being upset in a five-set thriller to Argentinian Mariano Navone.
The chatter of an American US Open champ got louder after Shelton dethroned reigning title holder Carlos Alcaraz in an epic five-set quarterfinals match.
But it all came crashing down Sunday, as Zverev — in front of an audience that wanted to see him lose — played like he was at home.
His 6-6 frame allowed for returns all over the court. And his all-around performance lengthened rallies just enough for Shelton’s errors to transpire.
At the end, an American was holding a trophy to end the Open — but it was the wrong one.
The drought continues for at least another year.
