2026 US Open Men's Final: Zverev vs. Shelton

[britbox]

The US Open Men's Final Thread

 

[the AntiPusher]

This is without a doubt the best opportunity for the US Men to win a title. no Alcaraz, no Sinner or any of the Big 3 plus going against Sascha who is not always steady in his finals.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Funny thing is if Shelton wins the title, no one can call it a fluke. He would have beaten Alcaraz (in the QF, I might add) and the #1 seed Zverev on the way to winning the title.

 

[El Dude]

This is a classic head vs. heart thing. My head says Zverev, but my heart says Shelton. I voted Shelton in five, even though I think Zverev is more likely to win the match.

 

[El Dude]

Funny thing is if Shelton wins the title, no one can call it a fluke. He would have beaten Alcaraz (in the QF, I might add) and the #1 seed Zverev on the way to winning the title.

Yup. But the same cannot be said for Zverev. I wouldn't call either Slam a total fluke, but consider his path to the (possible) titles:

RG: Bonzi, Machac, Halys, De Jong, Jodar, Mensik, Cobolli
USO: Sonego, Halys, Tabilo, Darderi, Van De Zandschulp, Khachanov, Shelton

Almost entirely journeyman types, with a couple talented young guys at RG, but no player who has been in the top 5 (Shelton will be there tomorrow).

 

[Murat B.]

Zverev up two sets. Shelton does not have that spunk, that extra bounce in his step and he looks tired. Because he is tired. The crowd is out of it for the most part. Zverev is playing within himself. If Shelton pulls this off, that would be something out of this world.

 

[El Dude]

Yeah, match over. I watched the end of the 1st and all of the 2nd and Shelton is being way out-played. Zverev is just on coast-mode, and Shelton can't do anything. He's obviously nervous and can't build momentum on anything. The 2nd set was everything, because Zverev looked a bit wobbly towards the end, but then locked down in the tiebreak and Shelton folded like a beeatch.

I'll predict the 3rd won't be close - maybe 6-3 at best for Shelton.

 

[Kieran]

I better cast my vote quick, this one’s heading in a clear direction…

 

[El Dude]

Another oddity about Zverev's season. If he wins this match, he'll have two Slam titles this year but no other titles. Even Rafa in 2022--which was one of the weakest two-Slam seasons of the Open Era--won a 500 and a 250.

There's still a lot of tennis for Sascha to play, though: two 500s, two Masters, and the Tour Final, plus a sprinkling of 250s. But if Sinner comes back healthy in Asia, Sascha is going to have to earn the YE #1 ranking. Sort of a nice dramatic element to the end of the year, and even if his two Slam titles were relatively easy, the YE1 probably won't be.

 

[El Dude]

I stepped away, but checking the score...at least Ben isn't going down easy. If the 3rd goes to a tiebreak, I give him little chance. He's got to find a way to break Sascha's service game and he just can't seem to do it.

 

[don_fabio]

I better cast my vote quick, this one’s heading in a clear direction…

Remember it is Zverev. It doesn't take much to rattle him. If it happens he will start having 2020 flashbacks.

 

[El Dude]

Sascha's game plan seemed relatively simple: Just play his normal game, nothing fancy, try to stay in the moment. I think also to slow the match down, don't let Shelton get into a groove. The implication being, Shelton will have to find his very best form, which will be hard to do in this venue, as a first-time finalist and on the American stage, with the ghost of Andy Roddick looming over his shoulder. Clearly it is working.

 

[El Dude]

Here's a crazy Zverev stat. Slam matches vs. top 5 opponents: 1-15. His only win was the 2024 AO vs Alcaraz.

 

[britbox]

In fairness to Sascha, you can only play what's in front of you... And Shelton did take out Alcaraz.

 

[El Dude]

Wow. I stopped watching too soon. Did Sascha fold or did Shelton play really well, or both?

 

[britbox]

Wow. I stopped watching too soon. Did Sascha fold or did Shelton play really well, or both?

Sascha choked. Framed a couple of shots and missed an easy volley when serving to stay in the set.

 

[Murat B.]

Wow. I stopped watching too soon. Did Sascha fold or did Shelton play really well, or both?

Zverev started cruising a bit, riding it out, maybe take it to a TB and see what happens mentality. Well, one lose service game and it is 2-1. You can't ride it out. You lose the edge. Shelton did not do anything special. Just played solid.

 

[El Dude]

Well at the least, the match became more interesting.

TBH, they're a really boring match-up to watch. There is so little guile, not a single drop-shot that I saw, pretty standard--even minimal--point construction. It wasn't Oberyn vs Oberyn, or Oberyn vs. the Mountain; it was the Mountain vs. the Mountain.

 

[El Dude]

Sort of a classic dynamic right now: Zverev has to batten down the hatches and put the young guy in his place; Shelton has to find a way to open up Sascha's tank mode.

 

[El Dude]

Bad start for Shelton. He was put in his place. I know Sascha is Sascha, but Ben's just been too nervy and listless this whole match to win it. Sascha would really have to choke.

I know. It could happen. But if I were to put percentages on it, I'd say Sascha was at 90% going into the 3rd set, 65% after losing it, and now 75% after winning the first game.