Former French Star Gives Blunt Verdict on the US Open Final Between Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton

Alizé Cornet expressed sharp indifference toward the 2026 US Open men’s singles final matchup between Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton. The French veteran stated that the pairing failed to inspire her from a pure tennis perspective.

She characterized the clash as a heavy server matching up against a defensive baseliner rather than an engaging tactical spectacle. According to Cornet, her engagement with the tournament vanished entirely once Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated from the draw. Cornet said on Les Grandes Gueules du Sport – RMC:

Zverev vs. Shelton? It’s not a final that gets me dreaming. In terms of pure tennis, it doesn’t interest me: you’ve got a rough-and-tumble guy serving at 250 km/h against one who just keeps passing the ball back. Ever since Alcaraz was knocked out, I’ve lost all interest.

Cornet’s candid remarks highlighted a broader sentiment among certain tennis purists about the evolving dynamics of late-stage Grand Slam draws. Her dismissal of the final underlined how deeply fan and player interest can be anchored to marquee rivalries involving marquee names like Alcaraz. By reducing the finalists’ styles to raw velocity versus baseline consistency, she underscored a perceived stylistic mismatch.

Alize Cornet: Zverev & Shelton finali bana hitap etmiyor, izleme isteği uyandırmıyor. Bir tarafta 254 km hızla servis atan bir oyuncu diğer tarafta topu hızlıca karşıya atan bir oyuncu var. pic.twitter.com/iEDI6SjywT

— Dodikan #Tennis (@Dogukandilber) September 12, 2026

The French player’s critique contrasted sharply with the electric atmosphere building around the Flushing Meadows finale. While Cornet tuned out following Alcaraz’s exit, local fans rallied behind Ben Shelton as he advanced to his maiden major final.

Analyzing the Zverev vs. Shelton US Open Final Preview

Top seed Alexander Zverev entered the championship match holding a 5-0 lifetime head-to-head advantage over eighth seed Ben Shelton. Zverev reached the title clash after defeating Karen Khachanov in straight sets during the semi-finals, prevailing 6-3, 7-6, 7-6.

His path to the final included surviving harrowing five-set encounters in the opening two rounds against Lorenzo Sonego and Quentin Halys before straightening his form. The German top seed spent nearly 19 hours and 38 minutes on court across his six matches prior to the final.

Ben Shelton earned his place in the title match by overcoming compatriot Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in a hard-fought semi-final. Shelton’s tournament resume featured a grueling five-set quarter-final victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz that concluded in the early morning hours. The 23-year-old American logged 18 hours and 58 minutes of total court time across his six matches while covering 54,091 feet of distance. Shelton entered the match aiming to become the first American man to capture a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003.

The stylistic clash featured Zverev’s structured baseline precision against Shelton’s explosive left-handed serve and aggressive court coverage. Zverev arrived at his sixth career Grand Slam final seeking his second major title of the season, having already triumphed at Roland Garros earlier in the year. Shelton brought a formidable weapon in his serve, which was repeatedly clocked at elite speeds throughout the fortnight alongside an improved backhand ground game. The encounter marked the first time the two players had met in a Grand Slam final.

Zverev maintained a statistical edge in tournament efficiency, dropping only four sets total compared to Shelton’s six lost sets en route to the final. However, Shelton carried the vocal backing of a partisan New York crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Alexander Zverev’s journey to the US Open Title

Alexander Zverev’s campaign at Flushing Meadows required remarkable resilience after he nearly faced early elimination in the opening week. He was pushed to full five-set distances in both his opening round against Lorenzo Sonego and his second-round match against Quentin Halys.

Overcoming those initial hurdles allowed the German top seed to stabilize his game and completely shut down opponents’ opportunities in subsequent rounds. He did not drop a single set from the third round onward, defeating players like Alejandro Tabilo, Luciano Darderi, and Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets.

In the semi-finals, Zverev demonstrated his tactical composure by edging past unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov in a tight straight-sets battle. Despite two demanding tiebreaks in the second and third sets, Zverev held his nerve to close out the match 6-3, 7-6, 7-6.

This victory propelled him into his second career US Open final, echoing his previous appearance at the tournament in 2020. It also marked his third consecutive appearance in a major final, following his triumph at the French Open and his runner-up finish at Wimbledon earlier in the 2026 season.

Zverev’s consistency on serve was a primary anchor throughout his deep tournament run in New York. He fired numerous aces and maintained high first-serve percentage numbers through the quarter-final and semi-final rounds. His baseline depth effectively neutralized the varied attacks of players like van de Zandschulp and Khachanov. By maintaining low unforced error counts in high-pressure moments, Zverev successfully managed the physical toll of a nearly 20-hour tournament schedule.

Also Read: Toni Nadal Calls for a Change in Modern Tennis Equipment: “I Would Reduce the Size of the Rackets”