Overview
- Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(7/2), 5-7, 6-2 to win the 2026 US Open and secure his second Grand Slam of the year.
- Zverev has publicly discussed living with type 1 diabetes since childhood and said during his winner’s speech that the disease "will not define" him while thanking his mother for supporting his career.
- Reports say Zverev administers on‑court insulin when his continuous glucose monitor flags peaks and that he sometimes needs multiple injections during matches.
- The win narrowed Zverev’s gap to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner to about 1,810 ATP points and makes Sinner’s planned comeback and entries in Beijing, Vienna, and Shanghai decisive for the year‑end standings.
- Commentators noted Zverev benefited from absent or early‑exiting rivals en route to his titles, and the World Health Organization used the moment to urge countries to boost diabetes prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.