Zverev no longer ‘third guy’ of men’s tennis after winning US Open final to claim second slam title

Tennis’ so-called “third guy” has taken a big step towards creating a modern Big Three with his maiden US Open title, before paying tribute to his mother’s support after being diagnosed with type-one diabetes as a child.

Alexander Zverev started the year known, and at-times derided, as the best player never to win a grand slam trophy, but ends it as the only man to capture two majors in 2026 after triumphing in New York.

The giant German, contesting his third consecutive slam final, also ensured the United States’ major title drought would extend into a 24th year while taking down ballistic-serving American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 on Monday (AEST).

Zverev’s brother Mischa and father Alexander snr are part of his team, but he paid special thanks to his mother – ex-player Irina – for her role in him achieving his tennis dreams.

“We went 30 years without winning a grand slam title, and now we won two in a span of three months,” Zverev said.

“I think God has seen how hard we worked, how much we suffered, how much pain we went through, and I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before. So, thank you guys. You guys are absolutely amazing, and I couldn’t be here without you.

“I want to 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 four-year-old son gets diagnosed with diabetes, and doctors in the office tell you that life and sports will be very limited for that child, it takes a very strong mother to walk out of those offices and to say, ‘My son will be whatever 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.”

The four-set victory adds to Zverev’s Roland-Garros breakthrough in June that shed his bridesmaid status and means he matches US Open women’s champion Elena Rybakina with two grand slam championships this year.

This result looked unrealistic as he laboured through consecutive five-setters across almost nine-and-a-half hours, but he dropped just one more set in his last five matches.

Zverev started his career pitting wits with tennis titans Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal before Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz arrived to torture him once more – with Djokovic still hanging around, too.

Sinner and Alcaraz missed three majors between them because of injury this season, which paved the way for Zverev’s career year, but at least one of them contested both of the grand slam titles he won.

Italy’s world No.1 Sinner suffered a befuddling second-round loss from two sets and 5-1 up in Paris, while Alcaraz’s first tournament since April after recovering from a wrist setback ended in the US Open quarter-finals to Shelton.