2026 US Open Men's Final: Zverev vs. Shelton
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mrzz
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I figured Sinner and Alcaraz would be part of the list as well (should have mentioned them as well), but still, apart from them...
El Dude
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Well, that depends upon how you value Slams vs other tournaments. If you look at slams only, and you convert all years to 2026 ATP points, Zverev earned 6100 ATP points from Slams (2x 2000 Wins = 4000, 1 x 1300 Final, 1 x 800 SF = 6100). There aren't a huge number of seasons that are better than that, in terms of Slams only.
But that is really not a great way to assess the greatness of seasons, because for much of the Open Era, the tour wasn't quite as "Slam-centric" as it has been in the last couple decades. John McEnroe's 1984 is without a doubt one the very best seasons of the Open Era, and he only played three Slams, earning 5300 points by today's system. But he was MUCH better than Zverev in 2026. Where Zverev has won no other tournaments, Mac won the Tour Finals, the WCT Finals, five Masters equivalents, four minor titles, and two Davis Cup final wins, with a 96.5 W%.
In my (unpublished) 100 Greatest Seasons list, Zverev's 2026 is currently around #70--very close to Rafa in 2022, which by my accounting was Rafa' 9th best season. But there are still two 500s, two Masters, and the Tour Finals still left to be played, so let's revisit this when the season is done. If he fizzles out and doesn't win anything else, he'll be stuck around #70. But with a strong finish, he could jump into the top 50. A possible comparable season might end up being Agassi's 1999, which I have ranked at #52.
El Dude
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Either way, this Slam title has separated Zverev from guys like Medvedev and even Roddick and Chang, I think. Of two Slam winners, the only one who was clearly greater than Zverev was Ilie Nastase. I'd say Zverev's resume is right there with Smith and Hewitt, and probably better than everyone else (Safin, Rafter, Kafelnikov, Bruguera, Kriek). The surly German is moving up in the world!
Fiero425
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If he had just finished off Alcaraz "down under," it might've changed the course of history; at least w/ him making all 4 Major Finals & giving Djokovic a better chance at #25 since Sascha's been his doormat for years! I'm still happy for the guy & I think this can only elevate his confidence, m/b making more noise the rest of the reason trying to attain #1 status!
Vince Evert
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The Tennis Letter's Post on X where Zverev pays tribute to his mother.
- @TheTennisLetter
Zverev gave an emotional speech after winning the U.S. Open about his mom and how she helped him achieve his dreams despite struggling with diabetes “I wanna thank one more person who’s never actually watching my matches but is the most important person in my tennis life and in my life in general. When your 4 year old son gets diagnosed with diabetes, and doctors in the office tell you that life and sports will be very very limited for that child, it takes a very very strong mother to walk out of those offices and say ‘My son will be wherever he wants to be.
If he wants to be a tennis player he’ll be a tennis player. If he wants to do something else, he’ll do something else. But this illness will not define us.’ My mother is the most important and strongest person I know. It takes an unbelievably strong woman to do what she did.”
00:35 / 01:15
7:50 AM · Sep 14, 2026395.1KViews
Vince Evert
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Congratulations to Zverev. It looked like he forgotten or didn't know what the score was when he won the Championship point, extraordinary stuff
What a great year Sasha has had winning two GS and runners up at Wimbly. Well deserved.
He's got the monkey off his back.
Bad luck, Ben Shelton. I was hoping he would win as it would have been good to see the first american male since Roddick won in 2003.
What a tournament he's had?
What a great year Sasha has had winning two GS and runners up at Wimbly. Well deserved.
He's got the monkey off his back.
Bad luck, Ben Shelton. I was hoping he would win as it would have been good to see the first american male since Roddick won in 2003.
What a tournament he's had?
Vince Evert
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a good look at the final stats, all credit goes to flashscore -
Federberg
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not sure he's up there with Hewitt yet, but the rest I largely agree with. Let's not forget how good Hewitt was for a minute. Didn't he straight set Sampras at a US Open final? I applaud Sasha, he's taken advantage of a strange year. I'll remind you he's not beaten Sincaraz once this year. Hewitt was going out and rag dolling Sampras, and doing number 1 things for a while. There's no world in which Zverev has reached that type of level yet. Respectfully
The only argument that guys like Safin or Hewitt had over Zverev was a higher peak. You can even argue that is out the window now that Zverev, in 2026, has had a 1999 Agassi type season. Safin and Hewitt were done as elite players by 25. Zverev's advantage in longevity puts him well ahead of Safin and Hewitt (and I don't even like Zverev at all).
This slam puts Zverev in the Tennis Hall of Fame.
This slam puts Zverev in the Tennis Hall of Fame.
Federberg
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I recall you saying you're quite young. Forgive me if I'm wrong. But were you watching tennis at that time or are you basing your opinion on the data? I can totally see how just looking at the data you might reach that conclusion. But there was a time when Hewitt was a solid entrenched number 1 in the world. Until Sasha does that, I can't see how he can be on the same level. Just my opinion
PS, I get how a lot of players look 'less than' in the shadow of the Big 3, but there have been lions and tigers in the sport through out history. There was a time when Hewitt was one of those. Completely on merit. One could even argue that he was the first of the new breed, superb court speed and footwork. And absolute rock of a backhand. When you watch the tapes now it doesn't look that impressive. But the fact is, Hewitt was THE guy at one point. That can never be taken away from him, and it's sad that a box score 20 years later is used to diminish him. In that moment he was the guy... Sasha has had a great year, but.. we all know things would probably have been very different if Sincaraz was fully active
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I agree with the take on Hewitt and I think Safin can probably be added to that category in a slightly different way - higher peak, albeit for a couple of short bursts. But the difference maker is that both could have at one time said I am the best tennis player in the world. I don't think Sascha has scaled that peak. That's not to say I'd put an asterisk against any of his majors - I don't... and he'll probably be a cert for the Hall of Fame based on what he's won anyway.
El Dude
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I definitely agree that Hewitt had a higher peak. But it depends upon what sort of spans of time to consider, and as with all such conversations, how we choose to balance peak vs career, and also how we weigh "eyeball memory" vs. statistics.not sure he's up there with Hewitt yet, but the rest I largely agree with. Let's not forget how good Hewitt was for a minute. Didn't he straight set Sampras at a US Open final? I applaud Sasha, he's taken advantage of a strange year. I'll remind you he's not beaten Sincaraz once this year. Hewitt was going out and rag dolling Sampras, and doing number 1 things for a while. There's no world in which Zverev has reached that type of level yet. Respectfully
I agree with you that during Hewitt's peak--especially 2001-02--he was a more dominant force on tour. Despite it being a weak period between peak Sampras and the rise of Federer, Hewitt was the best player on tour for a period of time, which is something that Zverev can never claim. Even if he finishes #1 this year, he is clearly a distant third behind Sincaraz. I think whether or not one is the best player on tour at any point in their career is a significant factor in greatness.
Zverev has a longer and, overall, more robust prime. So far he's won big titles over a span of 10 years (hard to believe), from 2017-26. For Hewitt it was just a measly three years (2001-03).
Anyhow, here are their stats:
ZVEREV:
Slams: 2 Wins, 4/7/6 F-SF-QF
Other titles: 2 Tour Finals, 1 Olympics,
Rankings: Best #2; 6 years in top 5, 9 years in top 10
W%: 71%; best 80% (2021, 2026)
HEWITT:
Slams: 2 Wins, 2/4/7 F-SF-QF
Other Titles: 2 Tour Finals, 2 Masters, 2 500s, 22 250s
Rankings: Best #1 (two YE 1), 4 years in top 5, 5 years in top 10
W%: 70%; best: 82% (2001)
mrzz
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Thanks, but I was actually interested in the "slams only" category, as I figured it was quite a good one. The curious part is that, not too long ago, people would say that Zverev was a choker at majors. Maybe that was true, but, liking the guy or not, the turnaround is remarkable.
Yesterday I checked my 2025 predictions, and there I put that Zverev would be win a major. I was one year ahead, could be worst...
Federberg
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2 year end number ones are a massive separator. We can look at any span we want but that is a big deal. Also winning slams against a GOAT level player is a different type of gravy to Shelton and Cobolli.
All of this makes me sound as if I'm not a Sasha fan. But I am a fan and I've been hugely impressed by what he's done this year. But... let's all calm down. There are levels to this. We can't be disrespecting the likes of Hewitt to exaggerate what Sasha has done in what has, if we're being honest, been a tennis leap year.
Federberg
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And let's not forget that his other major win was against David Nalbandian. He beat him like a ginger haired stepchild
El Dude
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Here's a chart depicting the titles and Slams (QF or better) from the two-Slam winners. Take it for what its worth:
As I said, I definitely think Nastase is easily the best two-Slam winner. In my own greatness rankings, I actually have him ahead of players like Kuerten, Ashe, and Courier, and very close to Vilas.
But for me, Zverev, Smith, and Hewitt are debatable, but the next group.
After that, I like Safin and Rafter similarly, and remember them as better than Kafelnikov. I'd probably also boost Bruguera over Kriek, as Kriek's Slams were among the very weakest of the Open Era (thus their smaller size cells).
As I said, I definitely think Nastase is easily the best two-Slam winner. In my own greatness rankings, I actually have him ahead of players like Kuerten, Ashe, and Courier, and very close to Vilas.
But for me, Zverev, Smith, and Hewitt are debatable, but the next group.
After that, I like Safin and Rafter similarly, and remember them as better than Kafelnikov. I'd probably also boost Bruguera over Kriek, as Kriek's Slams were among the very weakest of the Open Era (thus their smaller size cells).
El Dude
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I think the Mac in '84 vs. Zverev in '26 illustrates the problem of "Slam only," especially across eras.
Kieran
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I think of Hewitt as an interim champ, kind of like Jim Courier about a decade before, who was a tough guy between the reigns of the fading 80’s greats like Lendl, Becker and Edberg, and the record breaking reign of Pete.
When Pete began to show serious signs of fading, Hewitt clipped him a few times, and then when Federer began to dominate, Hewitt became a watered down champ.
Fun fact: in an old job, my gaffer was a serious gambler. When Sampras lost to a Brit at Wimbledon in 2002 (not Henman), I told the gaffer to bet on Pete winning the USO, and to make it tasty, he’ll beat Agassi in the final. He told me to f-off. I told him to lay the bet, I’m so sure of this that I bought my ticket for the flights - and final.
Well this came true and he didn’t place the bet. In 2003 I told him to bet on Karlovic v Hewitt in the first round of Wimbledon. He said, wuh, who, wuh? I don’t know what the odds were but he placed the bet. And won fairly big. He offered me some but I knew he was strapped and I told him no thanks.
Lovely fella, but a lousy gambler, unfortunately..
When Pete began to show serious signs of fading, Hewitt clipped him a few times, and then when Federer began to dominate, Hewitt became a watered down champ.
Fun fact: in an old job, my gaffer was a serious gambler. When Sampras lost to a Brit at Wimbledon in 2002 (not Henman), I told the gaffer to bet on Pete winning the USO, and to make it tasty, he’ll beat Agassi in the final. He told me to f-off. I told him to lay the bet, I’m so sure of this that I bought my ticket for the flights - and final.
Well this came true and he didn’t place the bet. In 2003 I told him to bet on Karlovic v Hewitt in the first round of Wimbledon. He said, wuh, who, wuh? I don’t know what the odds were but he placed the bet. And won fairly big. He offered me some but I knew he was strapped and I told him no thanks.
Lovely fella, but a lousy gambler, unfortunately..
Yeah, Jim Courier is another one with a very high peak, but a very short prime. He was good from 1991-93, then just suddenly dropped off the face of the planet.
I'm a huge Pete fan, but I know his last really great year was in 1998, and his last good year was in 2000. Pete singlehandedly made Safin and Hewitt Hall of Famers. If Pete had just won those matches, he has 16 slams (and a record 7 US Opens), but more importantly, Safin and Hewitt would have been one slam wonders.
Pete winning the 2002 US Open was either a feeling you had or not because based on his form that year, there's no way that anyone can foresee that. Pete was really bad in 2002, and that's putting it nicely. He was losing in the first or second round of every tournament that year, even in the US Open warm-up tournaments. That 2002 US Open run was like nostalgia in real time!
That 2003 Karlovic-Hewitt match was very shocking at the time. In hindsight, this is clearly the moment you could start to see his decline.