Alexander Zverev of Germany won the U.S. Open men’s singles title on September 10, defeating American Ben Shelton in a four-set match that ended 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2. This victory marks Zverev’s second Grand Slam title, following his win at the French Open in May. Shelton, 23, was aiming to become the first American man to win a major title since Andy Roddick’s U.S. Open victory in 2003. He also became the first Black American man to reach a U.S. Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972, making his run historically significant. Zverev’s road to the final included a semifinal win over American Frances Tiafoe. Shelton had previously played a marathon semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz, which lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes and ended just before 3:33 a.m. In the final, Shelton pushed Zverev to a tiebreak in the second set and fought back in the third, but Zverev ultimately prevailed. During the fourth set, Zverev was penalized for a time violation but managed to recover and win the match. According to a report, Zverev did not immediately realize he had won the match. After Shelton hit a long return on championship point, Zverev thought there was still another game to play. He only confirmed his victory after checking the scoreboard and observing the crowd’s reaction. Zverev’s win also made him the fourth man in the Open era (since 1968) to claim his first two Grand Slam titles in the same year. Earlier in the tournament, Zverev faced challenges, including matches against Italian Lorenzo Sonego and Frenchman Quentin Halys, which nearly ended his U.S. Open campaign. However, injuries to top players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz allowed Zverev to progress further than expected. Fans celebrated Shelton’s historic performance, with many expressing hope that he could become the second Black man to win the U.S. Open, following Arthur Ashe’s 1968 victory. Some traveled long distances to support Shelton, recognizing the potential impact of his run on the future of American tennis.