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

[britbox]

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.

I think you're being pretty generous with your analogy. I was thinking more of Tyrion v Shaggar of the Hill Tribes of the Vale.

 

[El Dude]

I think you're being pretty generous with your analogy. I was thinking more of Tyrion v Shaggar of the Hill Tribes of the Vale.

Funny. I had to look up Shagga to remember who he was. Seriously, though, I was just comparing styles, not ability. On the "Oberyn-to-Mountain spectrum," both are far to the Mountain side.

 

[britbox]

A better game from Ben to hold at 0-2.

 

[britbox]

Double break. This looks over.

 

[britbox]

Sascha to serve for the match and the championship.

 

[Murat B.]

Zverev up 2 breaks now. So , either this is over, or the biggest chokage in tennis history.

 

[don_fabio]

Zverev has improved the net play tremendously.

 

[Murat B.]

Little case of the yips should be expected.

 

[Fiero425]

Zverev has improved the net play tremendously.

Ironic since I surfed by the match to see him butcher set/ Brk.point at the net for the 3rd set! He was so zoned in he didn't realize the match was over! Great win for the guy who's had to deal w/ so much over the yrs.; finally getting his due!

 

[Murat B.]

Dude forgot he won...I thought he was playing it cool or something,

 

[britbox]

Congratulations to Sascha. Good performance. He didn't seem to realise he'd converted Championship point initially.

 

[don_fabio]

Ironic since I surfed by the match to see him butcher set/ Brk.point for the 3rd set! He was so zoned in he didn't realize the match was over! Great win for the guy who's had to deal w/ so much over the yrs.; finally getting his due!

After all the suffering and bad losses in later stages of the slams, he now has 2 grand slams. His body is extremely durable, no injuries almost at all apart from the foot ligaments. He will be looking for more slams.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Those were some classy speeches by Ben and Sascha.. Hey guys this is what we have seen in other matches a VERY BAD match up for Ben. Ben's game today does not make Sascha uncomfortable. I think the one thing I notice is there is no Ben's lefty advantage. I think Ben may need to watch some of Rafa and a few other lefty players that have had success vs Sascha. To be Honest, this was one of Sascha's better matches. Dude was locked in and took advantage of non Sinnarz across the net today. Congrats Sascha!..

 

[El Dude]

And he did it. Congrats to Sascha. You may not have beaten any of the top three opponents to win either Slam, but you did beat the guys you needed to.

 

[El Dude]

Those were some classy speeches by Ben and Sascha.. Hey guys this is what we have seen in other matches a VERY BAD match up for Ben. Ben's game today does not make Sascha uncomfortable. I think the one thing I notice is there is no Ben's lefty advantage. I think Ben may need to watch some of Rafa and a few other lefty players that have had success vs Sascha. To be Honest, this was one of Sascha's better matches. Dude was locked in and took advantage of non Sinnarz across the net today. Congrats Sascha!..

I think part of the problem is that Ben is very predictable. You know exactly what he's going to do and, frankly, Zverev just does it better.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I think part of the problem is that Ben is very predictable. You know exactly what he's going to do and, frankly, Zverev just does it better.

Agreed, I think I mentioned it early in the tournament but I thought he got better.

 

[El Dude]

Agreed, I think I mentioned it early in the tournament but I thought he got better.

You did, and I think he showed improvement on the backhand side, but might have regressed a bit with Zverev. But I think the problem is also the predictability - not sure if he's work on that. I don't know if I'd quite call him a serve-bot - like Zverev, he's got more to his game. But he is "serve-botty" and, more to my point, doesn't surprise you on court.

 

[El Dude]

After all the suffering and bad losses in later stages of the slams, he now has 2 grand slams. His body is extremely durable, no injuries almost at all apart from the foot ligaments. He will be looking for more slams.

He doesn't look on the cusp of declining, so should have more chances. The question is whether he can find a way to beat, or at least avoid, Jannik Sinner. He's shown he can beat Carlos (6-7) but not Sinner (4-11, but 0-10 since 2024). If you line up their games, Sinner can do everything Sascha can and better, plus a lot else. It is an impossible match-up.

 

[mrzz]

@El Dude , you probably posted this already, but how many players outside the big 3 had better major seasons than Zverev's 2026? 1 semi, three finals, two titles, lost the semi in the fifth to the eventual champion. Not too shabby...

 

[the AntiPusher]

You did, and I think he showed improvement on the backhand side, but might have regressed a bit with Zverev. But I think the problem is also the predictability - not sure if he's work on that. I don't know if I'd quite call him a serve-bot - like Zverev, he's got more to his game. But he is "serve-botty" and, more to my point, doesn't surprise you on court

I would not consider Ben a serve bot either. Actually, Sascha had a much better first and 2nd serve percentage and mph than Ben.