Alexander Zverev Wins ‘This’ Prize Money After Beating Ben Shelton in US Open Final

Alexander Zverev took home his career’s second Grand Slam title by upsetting home favorite Ben Shelton in the US Open final, held on Sunday (September 13). Playing in his second US Open final, Zverev registered a 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 win over the American ace, extending his head-to-head lead to a perfect 6-0.

As the winner, Zverev received a cheque of $5.5 million in prize money, the same amount that women’s champion Elena Rybakina took home after denying a three-peat to Aryna Sabalenka. Runner-up Shelton received $2.8 million in prize money.

Shelton played his career’s first Grand Slam final, while Zverev reached the sixth Major final of his career. The American did it after eliminating compatriot Frances Tiafoe, while Zverev knocked out Karen Khachanov.

In the quarterfinals, it was defending champion Carlos Alcaraz whom Shelton defeated in a five-set thriller. The win over Tiafoe made Shelton the first Black American man to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.

Before arriving at Flushing Meadows, the 23-year-old had ended all four finals he played in in his favor, winning the Dallas Open and the Stuttgart Open by beating Taylor Fritz, the Munich Open by beating Flavio Cobolli, and successfully defending his title at the Canadian Open against Brandon Nakashima.

But Zverev had played only three finals, winning one title, before coming to New York. After losing the Madrid Open to Jannik Sinner, he beat Cobolli in the French Open final to end his Grand Slam title drought. The 29-year-old progressed to his career’s first final at Wimbledon, but Sinner spoiled his Channel Slam goal, defending his title.

Before this season, he had lost all three Major finals he played at the 2020 US Open (lost to Dominic Thiem), 2024 French Open (lost to Alcaraz), and 2025 Australian Open (lost to Sinner). And this season, he reached three finals at this level.

Alexander Zverev gets emotional during the winner’s speech

When Alexander Zverev beat Flavio Cobolli in the French Open final, it made him the first male player with type 1 diabetes to win a Grand Slam title. After doubling the tally, Zverev paid an emotional tribute to his mom, Irina Zvereva, for believing that her son, in spite of diabetes, can do anything he wants.

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.

Alexander Zverev said during the trophy presentation

Zverev will end the season with more Majors than Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, both of whom won the Australian Open and Wimbledon, respectively. In Paris, Alcaraz was absent while both Sinner and Novak Djokovic crashed out in the early rounds. At the US Open, Sinner was absent, and Djokovic and Alcaraz lost before reaching the semifinals.

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.’

Alexander Zverev added

Before arriving in New York, Zverev suffered early-round exits in both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Masters. The only times he played five-setters at this US Open were in his first two matches.

My mother is the most important and strongest person I know. It takes an unbelievably strong woman to do what she did.

Alexander Zverev added

Next is the Asian Swing. Zverev did not reach a final of any of the tournaments in Asia last year.

Also read: Alexander Zverev Believes He Can Win More Grand Slam Titles Than Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner After Reaching US Open Final