‘He didn’t know!’: Zverev oblivious to US Open triumph

The United States’ 23-year wait for a men’s tennis grand slam champion continues after Alexander Zverev overpowered Ben Shelton in the final in New York on Monday (AEST).

Zverev, the top seed from Germany, won his first US Open title with a 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 victory over the huge serving Shelton, who was bidding to become the first American man to a win a grand slam since Andy Roddick in 2003.

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Roddick, now one of the sport’s leading analysts, was in the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium as Shelton was frustrated by his more experienced opponent.

Zverev, 29, had got his own monkey off his back in June when he won his first grand slam title at Roland-Garros.

With world No.1 Jannik Sinner missing with a knee injury, and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz ousted by Shelton, Zverev seized his opportunity again.

Eighth seed Shelton is now 0-6 against Zverev, who lost the 2020 US Open final to Dominic Thiem after winning the first two sets.

He had a wobble in the third set to raise the hopes of home fans before Shelton, 23, handed momentum straight back by losing his first service game in the fourth.

It was one-way traffic from there.

“It’s been a loud crowd, but it hasn’t affected him. He’s been locked in, Zverev,” Jelena Dokic said on Nine.

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Zverev came within two points of being knocked out by Lorenzo Sonego in the first round at Flushing Meadows and Quentin Halys also took him to five sets in the second.

He didn’t realise he had won the tournament at first before raising his arms in triumph and disbelief.

“He didn’t know! My goodness. That is incredible,” Todd Woodbridge said on Nine.

“That shows you how in the zone Zverev has been in this match today. He didn’t know the match was over, he didn’t know he had won the second grand slam title of his career. What a season it has become, and now time to celebrate.”

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Zverev’s career had been dogged by domestic abuse allegations from ex-girlfriends Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea.

A trial in Germany ended in a 2024 settlement with Patea where the case was dropped without a verdict or admission of guilt.

“He’s had his battles on and off the court throughout his career and this year is turning into a magic moment for him,” Woodbridge said on Nine.

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Zverev told Shelton afterwards that he was destined to win grand slams.

“I know today 99.9 per cent of the people wanted Ben to win, so I’m very sorry first of all,” Zverev said during the trophy presentation.

“But second, it was an incredible atmosphere to play in. Even though I know that the crowd was against me, the crowd was always incredibly fair.”

Zverev then turned to his team.

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“We went almost 30 years without winning a grand slam title, and now we’ve won two in a span of three months,” he said.

“I think God has seen how hard we worked, how much we suffered, how much pain we went through, and I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before.”

Zverev also thanked his mother Irina, a former professional tennis player.

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"When your four-year-old son is diagnosed with diabetes and doctors in the office tell you that life and sports will be very limited for that child, it takes a very strong mother to say 'my son will be whatever he wants to be'," Zverev said.

“If he wants to be a tennis player, he’ll be a tennis player. If he wants to do something else, he’ll do something else, but this illness will not define us. I’m happy that we worked through it, and we’re doing things that we’re doing right now. My mother is the most important and strongest person I know because it takes an unbelievably strong woman to do what she did.”

Shelton, meanwhile, doffed his cap to the better player.

“You’re one of the very best players in the world, maybe the best player in the world this year,” Shelton told Zverev.

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