Alexander Zverev held off Ben Shelton to win the US Open on Sunday, capturing the second Grand Slam of his career just months after winning the French Open.

The top-seeded German ruthlessly snuffed out a late surge by Shelton to triumph 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-2, crushing the eighth seed's hopes of becoming the first American men's player in 23 years to win a Grand Slam title.

Zverev successfully overcame the bitter memory of his 2020 US Open defeat to Dominic Thiem.

After six years and with two major finals disappointments along the way, he finally made a breakthrough this season. 

"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," Zverev said at the trophy presentation.

The 23-year-old Shelton was one month shy of his first birthday when Andy Roddick hoisted the 2003 US Open trophy in what still remains the last time an American men's player claimed a major title. 

Hopes were high that Shelton could end the drought after his epic five-set quarter-final victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, and a come-from-behind win over Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals.

But Zverev's excellence on the day proved too much for Shelton, despite the support of a star-studded Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd trying to inspire the American to victory.

With their backing, Shelton surged in the third set, eliminating the errors that Zverev had ruthlessly exploited.

Serving to extend the set, Zverev fell behind 0-40. Shelton fired long on his first set point but on the second, Zverev's forehand volley went wide. Shelton had his first break of the match and they were headed to a fourth set.

Zverev, however, responded immediately and decisively, breaking Shelton in the first game of the fourth set and rolling home.

He lifted his arms in triumph after Shelton fired a serve return long on match point and finally received his own huge cheer from the crowd, but not before some prompting.

Zverev said he didn't initially realize he'd won because he had lost track of the score.

"I knew I broke him twice, but I thought it was 5-1 instead of 6-2, which helped me in a way, because I didn't really get nervous serving out the match," Zverev said.

"In that moment I was in the zone a lot. I didn't hear noise at all. Then also, of course, when the crowd is loud, it's impossible to hear the umpire, so I didn't hear that she said, 'Game, set, match.'"

Zverev had followed up his French Open victory with a runner-up finish at Wimbledon, losing to Jannik Sinner. 

But his New York prospects had looked bleak as he labored through two five-setters to start the tournament.

Now the 29-year-old, ranked second in the world, has a chance to challenge for the number one ranking with Italy's Sinner currently sidelined by a knee injury.

Despite his recent good form, Zverev remains adamant that Sinner is still the best player in the world. 

"If everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead," he said.