Analysis of the 2026 US Open Final: Ben Shelton vs Alexander Zverev with Glory at Stake

Carlos Navarro - 12 Sep 2026 | 18:49
Ben Shelton Alexander Zverev ATP US Open 2026 Análisis

New York will crown a new Grand Slam champion or elevate the German's status to new heights: we analyze all the intricacies of a final that may be unexpected, but has historical significance.

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Shelton or Zverev, who will conquer the title?

The US Open 2026 comes to an end with a climax befitting the occasion. Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev will duel for glory, in another final without Alcaraz or Sinner that shows that this 2026 has been full of surprises and confirms, of course, that the generational change at the top of the ATP circuit has arrived to stay. Just as it happened at Roland Garros, Sascha will face a rookie in these battles... with the difference, of course, that he already knows what it means to conquer a Major, seeking to impose that maturity and presence in a quite challenging context.

However, Shelton does not seem to be the type to be intimidated in front of the big stages. He knows well that his tennis can make a difference if the atmosphere is in his favor, and a packed Arthur Ashe with Americans can serve as the perfect breeding ground for his overwhelming personality to take over the match. What goes beyond the game can be a double-edged sword and will undoubtedly influence, but the key for Ben, what can truly earn him the title, is undoubtedly what happens on the court... and the 0-5 record (he has only won one set against him), along with Sascha's brutal statistic against left-handed players (he has only lost to Learner Tien), puts a significant brake on his euphoria.

Can Shelton defeat Zverev at this US Open 2026?

Without a doubt, the favoritism rests on the shoulders of Zverev, who arrived here as the top seed... and who struggled significantly to confirm that status, going through purgatory against Sonego and Halys before finally finding heaven in a favorable draw. The confidence he gained after two nail-biting matches was his best ally, demonstrating that neither physical nor mental issues are problems for a guy who does not control who he faces, but dominates them in every round.

Have we seen a dazzling, brave Zverev, at his best level, impressing onlookers? Not at all. Have we encountered a solid Zverev, mentally strong, capable of overcoming complicated situations with a rhythm and consistency worthy of a Grand Slam champion? With one match left for glory, yes. Now it's Sascha's turn to elevate his game even further against his toughest opponent... and execute everything he has always done well against a Shelton he has never lost to.

The serve/return battle will be extremely important: Ben has on the other side of the net a guy who also always secures a large cushion of free points, neutralizing one of his possible advantages. Perhaps where the most differences are marked is from the baseline: he withstands Shelton's crosscourt forehand with his magnificent crosscourt backhand, and the shot turned into jackpot is undoubtedly the down-the-line backhand, which if at 100% would force Shelton to give up the center, move towards the backhand area while moving, and lose control of the points.

However, the key, as in every final, lies in Sascha's courage with his forehand. We know Ben's greatest weakness, and perhaps in the crosscourt exchanges we will see how the two weaknesses intersect: it is important for Zverev to impose his forehand over the American's backhand, hitting with courage and gaining ground on the baseline. This is undoubtedly the best way to short-circuit Ben... and he knows perfectly how to impose it.

The keys for Shelton to beat Zverev in the final

For Shelton, he needs to perform at the level he showed against Alcaraz and in the last two sets of his duel against Tiafoe: he started very cold, flat in his body language, lacking a high percentage of points won on his first serve (the main initial key) and that killer instinct that shrinks many of his rivals. Undoubtedly, this is one of the points he must correct: a cold and slow start in a Grand Slam final could condemn him forever, with Zverev being more capable of silencing the match with his serve than Tiafoe.

From there, it will be crucial for Ben to always be in control of the point, to opt for short points and cover his backhand side. It all starts with a lot of intelligence in his serve, with that variety so characteristic: most of his serves land in Zverev's best hitting zone (open to the German's backhand), so he will need to vary to the extreme and be as unpredictable as possible in that aspect.

From there, find his forehand... but fearlessly unleash the down-the-line backhand, preventing Zverev from countering with his down-the-line backhand. Coming to the net, opening angles, being unpredictable from the baseline and avoiding, without a doubt, the patterns of crosscourt exchanges without much intention: the German is more dominant both on the backhand side (which neutralizes Shelton's forehand) and with his forehand. Or not?

Here lies the great task for Ben, the key that could perfectly tilt the match in his favor: being able to tolerate the exchange on the backhand side, using the slice with precision and even daring with the down-the-line shot. If he has his day with this shot, he will be able to find the center of the court and gain control of the game; otherwise, he will struggle greatly and end up drowning in his weakest area. Regardless, a golden opportunity to enjoy... and to make us enjoy. Is this the first of many? The last bullet? Zverev and his great chance to be number one by the end of the year when no one expected it? Can the German defeat names like Thiem or del Potro in Grand Slams? Tennis will decide tomorrow... and we couldn't be more eager to see it.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Análisis de la final del US Open 2026: Ben Shelton vs Alexander Zverev con la gloria en juego