It's difficult to look beyond Alexander Zverev here, given his excellent run in the Grand Slams this year and the wealth of experience he has accumulated on the biggest stage. However, Ben Shelton has been the better performer of the two throughout this fortnight in New York, so he is unlikely to go down without putting up a proper fight.
Zverev Eyes A Second Grand Slam Title
- Zverev has a 1–4 record in Grand Slam finals.
- He has won 44 of his last 45 matches against left-handed opponents.
- Shelton is currently on a five-match winning streak in tour-level finals.
- He has a 5–21 career record against Top 5 players.
HTH - Alexander Zverev leads 5-0
| Year | Tournament | Winner | Score | Surface | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Masters Cup ATP | Zverev | 2–0 | Indoor | — |
| 2025 | Cincinnati | Zverev | 2–0 | Hard | QF |
| 2025 | Stuttgart | Zverev | 2–0 | Grass | SF |
| 2025 | Munich | Zverev | 2–0 | Clay | F |
| 2024 | Cincinnati | Zverev | 2–1 | Hard | QF |
Zverev Reaches Another Grand Slam Final in New York
Alexander Zverev defeated Karen Khachanov in straight sets to reach the final at the US Open, winning 6-3, 7-6, 7-6. He served 15 aces and lost his serve only once during the match.
Zverev has now become the oldest player to reach Grand Slam finals on all three surfaces in the same season for the first time in his career, highlighting his strong performances at this level throughout the year.
His path to the final has been more comfortable than his opponent's, with all of his opponents ranked outside the Top 20. He faced a similar path earlier this year at Roland Garros, where he did not face a Top 20 opponent until the final and went on to win the title. He will look to replicate that success in New York.
Since the start of 2025, Zverev has played seven tour-level finals and lost five of them against Top 10 opponents, including four defeats to Jannik Sinner. One of his two victories came against Ben Shelton in Munich last year.
The German has been one of the most consistent players on tour, but his struggles against top opposition remain a concern. He has won only four of his last 22 matches against Top 10 players, with half of those losses coming against Sinner.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Germany |
| Age | Born 20 April 1997 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| World Ranking | No. 2 |
| Career High | No. 2 (13 June 2022) |
| Elo Ranking | No. 3 |
| Tour-Level Titles | 25 |
Shelton Completes Historic Run to First Grand Slam Final
Ben Shelton defeated compatriot Frances Tiafoe from a set down to reach the US Open final, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. After losing the opening set, he gradually found his rhythm and did not lose serve in the final three sets, saving all three break points he faced in the fourth set.
Shelton has become the first player from outside Europe to reach a Grand Slam final since Juan Martín del Potro in 2009 and the youngest American to reach this stage since Andy Roddick in 2005.
The American is enjoying an incredible run, having won 12 of his last 13 matches, including the title in Montreal. He has dropped a set in five of his six matches this fortnight, including his impressive five-set victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
The 23-year-old has an impressive record in tour-level finals, winning seven of his nine matches at this stage. He has won his last five finals and his most recent defeat came against none other than Zverev in Munich last year.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Age | Born 9 October 2002 |
| Plays | Left-handed |
| World Ranking | No. 9 |
| Career High | No. 5 (10 November 2025) |
| Elo Ranking | No. 7 |
| Tour-Level Titles | 7 |