US OPEN

September 13, 2026

Alexander Zverev

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/B. Shelton

6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Sascha, congratulations. Magnificent tournament. As is customary for the champion, the first question will be asked by Nico.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Okay, awesome.

THE MODERATOR: Of the USTA Lemonade Stand.

Q. Congratulations, Sascha. It's been a great year for you. How does it feel winning your first US Open?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: It feels amazing, especially with the heartbreak I had in 2020 here. To finally lift this trophy is an amazing feeling.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. 6-2, the match is over.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah.

Q. What happened there? Were you just blocking out the noise so much?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: No, I thought it was 5-1. 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.

Yeah, I just miscounted the score, I guess.

Q. You mentioned on the ESPN broadcast about not putting too much pace into Shelton's backhand. Is that just a realization that you noticed?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Say again.

Q. You mentioned on the ESPN broadcast about not putting too much pace into Shelton's backhand. Is that a realization you and your team noticed recently, and I guess how did that work out for you?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: No, it's not pace. It's height and depth that I focus on. I feel like when you play fast but flat, he handles his backhand a lot better than when you play high.

It's just I feel like he can generate a lot of power, he can generate a lot of power from his forehand side. When he runs around to his forehand, pace helps you out, but when you play slow to his forehand, it's really not a good idea.

I feel like when you play higher and deeper, it's just a better outcome I feel like.

Q. Going back to you thinking that it was 5-1, because that was very surprising, it's like you are so focused that you are not paying attention to the scoreboards and what's going on around you, because, I mean, when there is a match point, the screens are all over around the stadium and are around you. Can you tell us what was your focus at that time?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, in that moment I was in the zone a lot. I didn't hear noise at all. I was in this kind of tunnel where I just didn't hear anything.

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.

But, yeah, at the end of the day, I think I just forgot the score. It's not much else to say. I just thought it was 5-1 instead of 6-2.

Q. He called you the hardest worker on tour. Do you feel like you are? And do you feel like that has made the difference for you this year?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, I think I'm up there, for sure, because I've said it before, I don't think I'm the most talented in any way. I don't think I'm a God-given talent like some other guys are.

I think most of my tennis is through hard work, through a lot of hours spent on the court, and through a lot of hours spent in the gym and on the track. That's how I play tennis.

But I think he's very talented, but he's very close to the hard work as well. You see him and his father all the time after matches, before matches, working on different things, and every single year he keeps improving something.

I just played him now today. I think this was the best backhand he's hit ever against me, the most consistent power. There was everything there.

I remember a couple of years ago when I first played him, he was always dangerous, he always had that serve, and he always had that forehand, but if you played three, four balls back there would be an error, and that was absolutely not the case today.

Q. Putting modesty to one side and the rankings to one side, do you think you're the best tennis player in the world right now?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I don't know how to answer that. You have to take everything into consideration. With Jannik Sinner being injured and Carlos Alcaraz coming back from injury after four months, right now this moment, probably yes. Both of them healthy and both of them at the top of their game, maybe not.

But if we say right, right now with Jannik being injured and Carlos coming back from injury, maybe. I mean, four, five months ago when both of them were healthy, I wasn't. I was losing to Jannik all the time.

So if everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead. It's as simple as that.

Q. Congratulations. The first time you play for a major title it's here, and there's no one in the stands. Now, six years later, you have that trophy. Did you allow yourself even before the match or now after thinking about those parallels of no one here for your first major and now --

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think the scars of the 2020 final, they kind of disappeared after I won in Paris. I said it in Wimbledon. Even though I lost the final, I enjoyed the match, I enjoyed being in the Grand Slam final, I enjoyed playing on Centre Court, I enjoyed playing in front of an amazing crowd, in front of some celebrities and all that. I enjoyed doing that.

Whereas before winning in Paris, I felt a lot of stress all the time, because there was always a question mark, Will I ever win one? What I think now is just more of a joy to play those kind of finals.