Alexander Zverev says it was an "amazing feeling" to lift the US Open trophy after defeating Ben Shelton in the final.

Alexander Zverev captured his elusive maiden Grand Slam title in commanding fashion at Flushing Meadows, defeating American powerhouse Ben Shelton in straight sets to lift the prestigious US Open trophy. The German star described the triumph as an amazing feeling after years of coming agonizingly close on the sport's biggest stages, finally banishing the demons of previous major final defeats. Zverev utilized his potent first serve and relentless baseline defense to neutralize the explosive power of Shelton, who was playing in his first career major singles final in front of a raucous New York crowd.

This momentous victory marks a massive career milestone for the twenty-seven-year-old, who previously suffered a heartbreaking five-set loss to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final after holding a two-set lead. Zverev also reached the championship match at Roland Garros earlier this year, falling to Carlos Alcaraz in a grueling five-setter, making this hard-court coronation all the sweeter for the Olympic gold medalist. Meanwhile, Shelton's remarkable run to the title match underscores his meteoric rise since reaching the semifinals in New York two years prior, cementing his status as one of the most exciting young talents in men's professional tennis.

With this Grand Slam breakthrough secured, Zverev now turns his attention toward finishing the season at the top of the ATP rankings and securing the year-end world number-one spot. The veteran competitor will carry this tremendous momentum into the upcoming Asian swing and the Paris Masters, where he aims to add more Masters 1000 titles to his impressive resume of twenty-two career trophies. For Shelton, the valuable experience gained under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium will undoubtedly fuel his preparation for the upcoming Australian swing, where he looks to break into the elite top five.