Ben Shelton can't snap American men's drought at US Open, falls to Alexander Zverev

Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News on Sep 13, 2026

Published in Tennis

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NEW YORK — The drought continues.

The American men were reminded time after time about how long it’s been since a fellow countryman won the US 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.

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 to win the US Open title for the first time in his career.

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 racket. 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.

And the finish was clinical, with the now two-time major winner — Zverev won the French Open in June.

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.

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