The 23-year-long drought of American men’s singles Grand Slam winners will extend into 2027 after home hope Ben Shelton fell in the US Open final to Alexander Zverev.
Competing in his first-ever major final, Shelton was faced with a laser-focused Zverev, who beat him in four sets, 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2.
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The German secured his first US Open title and second Grand Slam crown overall, following his triumph at Roland Garros earlier this year.
Shelton never really looked like he was on top in the match, having converted just one of three break point opportunities he created.
The lack of threat posed against Zverev’s serve cost Shelton, but the 23-year-old admitted that it was not the only part of his game that let him down.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Shelton said: “I definitely did not execute from the ground that I wanted to.
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“As the match went on, I would not ask myself anything more on the backhand side, but I did not hit my forehand well today.
“I was not accurate with it, when I attacked with it. I made too many errors, when I had the ball there on my strings.
“I had to put a great return into play or if I had the ball sitting up, or had a forehand sitting up on the baseline, I was not amazing attacking with my forehand. I was not great in transition. I made too many errors.
“I think that is the big piece for me. I want to be more lethal with more forehand. It is not easy, playing a guy like him, where there are very few chances.
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“You have got to work hard for the points that you win, for sure. But that for me is the piece that was lacking today.”
Despite falling in the US Open final, Shelton is set to clinch a career-high ranking on Monday.
After being knocked out in the third round of the US Open last year, Shelton will earn 1200 ATP points for his runner-up finish.
It will see him move up from ninth in the world to fourth, with the US star now only trailing Jannik Sinner, Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz in the rankings.
He is less than 1000 points behind Alcaraz after beating the Spaniard in the quarterfinals, denying him a successful title defence.
Shelton will next be in action at the Laver Cup in London, which is set to get underway on the 25th of September.
