ATP Tour

Zverev unlocks rare Grand Slam surface feat in 2026, joins stacked list

Alexander Zverev has taken his career to new heights in 2026, claiming his first Grand Slam title and further cementing his status as one of the greatest forces in men's tennis.

The German has also achieved something that highlights his versatility: he has strung together three major finals on three different surfaces in one year. Zverev won is first major title on clay at Roland Garros, advanced to the Wimbledon final on grass and, after defeating Karen Khachanov on Friday afternoon, is now into his second US Open final on hard courts.

Since the US Open switched to hard courts in 1978, the Grand Slams have been played on three different surfaces every season. Before Zverev completed the feat, just 11 men had managed to reach a major final on each of them in one year. These elite few have something in common: they all ended their careers as multiple major champions and members of the ATP No. 1 Club.

Although Zverev is still yet to check off one of his biggest goals by topping the PIF ATP Rankings, his latest achievement is a clear sign just how far the German has come.

From the pioneering example of Bjorn Borg in the late 70s, through the likes of John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Jim Courier and Andre Agassi, all of these players demonstrated an innate ability to contend for any trophy, whatever the surface. This century, all members of the 'Big Four' (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray) completed the feat in their pomp. The latest to do so were Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Grand Slam finalists on three surfaces in one year

_{^{*There have been three different Grand Slam surfaces since 1978}}

Now, with this feat behind him, Zverev now finds himself with an opportunity to settle a score in New York. Six years ago, in the 2020 US Open final, the German was two sets up, but the title would slip from his hands and eventually go to Austria’s Dominic Thiem.

On Sunday, Zverev will walk out in the Arthur Ashe Stadium in search of the title with his confidence through the roof. This time around, his presence in a Grand Slam final is no flash in the pan. At 29 years of age and in his prime, he can now look back at his career and see a talent that is big enough to dominate on any surface, just like the legends of the game.

Editor's Note: This story was translated from ATPTour.com/es