The men's singles draw at US Open 2026 is reaching its climax: Germany's Alexander Zverev and America's Ben Shelton have advanced to the final. A potential victory would be the first of their careers at the US Open, so Sunday in New York promises the birth of a new champion. The pairing already looks like one of the most intriguing of the season: on one side — an experienced top-10 player with a rich history at the majors, on the other — a young American for whom this is his first Grand Slam final in his career.

Zverev's Path: From Sonego to Khachanov

As reported by Sport RBC.UA, on his way to the decider Alexander Zverev successively defeated Lorenzo Sonego, Quentin Halys, Alejandro Tabilo, Luciano Darderi and Botic van de Zandschulp, and in the semifinal overcame Karen Khachanov, who is competing under a "neutral" status. It was precisely this semifinal that proved decisive: it allowed the German to reach the final and cemented his status as one of the main title contenders of the current season.

Shelton: First Grand Slam Final and a Win Over Alcaraz

Ben Shelton, for his part, has reached a Grand Slam final for the first time in his career and in doing so became the youngest American finalist at the US Open since 2003. His "calling card" on the way to the final deserves special mention: unlike Zverev, Shelton defeated the defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz en route, which makes his title claim especially weighty and leaves the final without any "predictable" favorite.

Historical Statistics and Season Context

A statistical fact is also worth noting: Alexander Zverev has become the first player since 2008 to reach multiple Grand Slam finals in a single season without playing a single match against a top-20 ranked player. This underscores how his path to the US Open 2026 final was built on victories over players who, formally, are not part of the elite top twenty, making his campaign one of the most unusual in modern major history. At the same time, for both finalists a victory would be their first specifically at the US Open.

When and Where to Watch the Final

The decider between Zverev and Shelton will take place on Sunday, September 13, at 21:00 Kyiv time. In Ukraine the broadcast will be available on the MEGOGO platform, as well as through the official Eurosport channel broadcasters. A reminder of the parallel program: in the women's singles draw, Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina and Arina Sabalenka, competing under a "neutral" status, will contest the title.