Key Takeaways
- Ben Shelton reached his maiden Grand Slam final at the 2026 US Open, where Alexander Zverev defeated him 6-3 7-6(2) 5-7 6-2.
- During his on-court speech, Shelton lauded Zverev, telling him, “You’re one of the very best players in the world, maybe the best player in the world this year.”
- Expressing deep gratitude to the tournament, his team, and New York fans, Shelton promised, “I’m just getting started and I’ll be back here again.”
Shelton praises champion Zverev after four-set battle
American star Ben Shelton showed immense gratitude and optimism during the trophy ceremony following his defeat in the men’s singles final of the 2026 US Open. Competing in his maiden major title match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Shelton fell to Alexander Zverev, who claimed the victory with a 6-3 7-6(2) 5-7 6-2 scoreline to capture his second Grand Slam title of the season.
Shelton opened his post-match speech by putting his journey into perspective. “First and most importantly, I want to thank God,” Shelton told the crowd. “My successes are a gift. The failures are a gift, and being here playing in front of you guys is a gift.”
He then directed heartfelt p...