Alexander Zverev on not realizing he won the US Open

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Alexander Zverev had just won the biggest match of his career — but for several seconds, he didn't even realize it.

After defeating American Ben Shelton in four sets to capture the 2026 US Open men's singles title, Zverev admitted he was so locked into the match that he initially thought the contest was still going. The German said he believed the score was 5-1 and did not immediately register the chair umpire's announcement that the match was over.

It took the roar of the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd and several seconds for the moment to sink in.

Then came the realization: he was a US Open champion.

“Relief and Happiness”

Speaking about the unusual championship moment, Zverev described the emotions that followed as a mixture of “relief and happiness.” He called the victory “really special” after years of coming close to a Grand Slam breakthrough.

The 29-year-old had already won his first major earlier this year at the French Open. Adding the US Open title gives him two Grand Slam championships in the same season and puts him firmly among the leading players of 2026.

From Heartbreak to a Second Major

The US Open victory also carried extra meaning because of Zverev's history at the tournament.

In 2020, he came within one set of winning his first Grand Slam title before Dominic Thiem rallied from two sets down to beat him in a fifth-set tiebreak. Six years later, Zverev finally completed the job in New York.

This time, there was no dramatic collapse.

Zverev defeated Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2, using his powerful serve and steady baseline game to withstand the American's challenge.

A Championship Built on Focus

That intense focus may have been exactly what helped Zverev get across the finish line.

With the crowd heavily behind Shelton, Zverev remained composed throughout the final. By the end, he was so concentrated on executing the final points that the celebration itself seemed to arrive as a surprise.

Once the reality set in, however, the emotion was unmistakable.

The title erased one of the most painful memories of his career while adding another major trophy to a season that has already exceeded expectations.

A Remarkable 2026 Season

Zverev's US Open triumph follows his French Open championship and a Wimbledon runner-up finish, giving him three Grand Slam finals in 2026. He also finished the US Open without dropping a match.

After finally getting his hands on the US Open trophy, Zverev can now look back at the journey from his 2020 heartbreak to his latest breakthrough with a very different perspective.

For a few seconds, he didn't know he had won.

But once he realized it, there was no mistaking what the moment meant.

Source: ABC News