By securing the title, Zverev has maintained the long-standing drought for American men, who have not won a Grand Slam singles crown since Andy Roddick’s triumph at Flushing Meadows in 2003. The result also places Zverev in elite company, as he becomes only the fourth man in the Open era to secure his first two major titles within the same calendar year, joining the ranks of Jimmy Connors, Guillermo Vilas, and Jannik Sinner.
A Dominant Campaign in New York
Zverev’s path to the title was marked by consistency and composure. After winning the French Open earlier this year, he arrived in New York as the No. 1 seed following the withdrawal of Jannik Sinner due to a knee injury. Throughout the tournament, Zverev demonstrated his form, finishing the season with an impressive 25-2 record in major matches. His performance in the final saw him capitalize on a nervous start from Shelton, who was competing in his first major final, and execute a clinical tiebreaker in the second set to take control of the match.
The victory provides a sense of closure for Zverev, who famously let a two-set lead slip away in the 2020 US Open final against Dominic Thiem. On Sunday, despite a brief resurgence from Shelton in the third set, Zverev remained focused. The conclusion of the match was somewhat understated; Zverev initially retreated to the baseline as if preparing for another point before realizing he had secured the championship, eventually celebrating as the reality of his achievement set in.
Shelton's Historic Run Ends
For Ben Shelton, the final represented the end of a breakthrough tournament. The American had captured the public's attention with a dramatic five-set quarterfinal victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, a match that concluded at 3:33 a.m. and set a record for the latest finish in tournament history. Shelton had aimed to become the first Black player to win the men’s title since Arthur Ashe in 1968, but he was unable to overcome the experience and precision of his opponent.
With this win, Zverev takes home $5.5 million in prize money, matching the record-setting purse awarded to women's champion Elena Rybakina. Having reached the final at Wimbledon earlier this year and now securing the US Open, Zverev’s 2024 season stands as his most successful to date, effectively silencing the lingering memories of his near-miss in New York four years ago.
