The finalists for the 2026 US Open are set, with Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton to meet in the championship match on Sunday at the hard-court major in New York.
Zverev, who is into his sixth major final and third of the season, will face home hope and first-time Grand Slam finalist Shelton. The 23-year-old is the first African American man to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972 and is bidding to become the first American man to win a major singles title since Andy Roddick in 2003.
With Zverev looking to add a second Grand Slam title to his breakthrough Roland Garros triumph in June and Shelton chasing his first major trophy on home soil, there is plenty at stake for both contenders. ATPTour.com breaks down everything you need to know ahead of the final at Flushing Meadows.
Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton have both advanced to the US Open final. It is Zverev's sixth major final and second at the US Open, having led Dominic Thiem by two sets to love in 2020 before falling in five.
Shelton reached his first major semi-final at the US Open in 2023, but this time he has taken another step forward, reaching his first Grand Slam final.
The US Open men's singles final will take place on Sunday, 13 September, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Zverev and Shelton will take to court at 2 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CEST.
Alexander Zverev, the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, has defeated Lorenzo Sonego, Quentin Halys, Alejandro Tabilo, Luciano Darderi, Botic van de Zandschulp and Karen Khachanov so far at the US Open.
Ben Shelton, the No. 9 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, has defeated Tallon Griekspoor, Hubert Hurkacz, Denis Shapovalov, Stefanos Tsitsipas, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and Frances Tiafoe en route to the championship match.
Shelton's quarter-final victory against Alcaraz was particularly significant. The American defeated the two-time US Open champion 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7), with the match finishing at 3:33 a.m. local time — the latest finish in tournament history.
Alexander Zverev leads Ben Shelton 5-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, having won all five of their previous meetings and 10 of the 11 sets they have played.
Their most recent meeting came at the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals, where Zverev prevailed in straight sets. They met four times last year, including in the Munich final, but Sunday's clash in New York will be their first meeting at a Grand Slam tournament.
Alexander Zverev has won one major title. The German broke his Grand Slam duck earlier this year at Roland Garros, where he defeated Flavio Cobolli to claim the trophy at the clay-court major.
Ben Shelton is yet to win a major title. The 23-year-old will be competing in his first Grand Slam final after previously reaching the semi-finals at the 2023 US Open and the 2025 Australian Open.
Shelton is bidding to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick won the 2003 US Open.
He is also the first African American man to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972, and the first African American man to reach a Grand Slam singles final since MaliVai Washington at 1996 Wimbledon.
2026 US Open Men's Singles Prize Money & Points
| Round | Points | Prize Money |
| Champion | 2,000 | $5,500,000 |
| Finalist | 1,300 | $2,800,000 |
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