Alexander Zverev sent out firm warning to world No 1 Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, claiming he is currently the best tennis player in the world following his US Open victory. German Zverev beat Ben Shelton in the final on Sunday to the bitter disappointment of the home crowd in New York. Zverev was playing in his sixth major final and Shelton his first, and it showed in a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-2 victory extinguished America's hopes of a first male winner since Andy Roddick in 2003. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The 29-year-old has been the dominant player in Grand Slams in a season that has seen Alcaraz, who won this year's Australian Open, exit the US Open in a quarter-final defeat by Shelton after a long injury lay-off while Sinner pulled out injured before the tournament began after winning Wimbledon.
Zverev finally broke through to win his first major at the French Open, then reach the final at the All England Club, losing to Sinner. He is 25-2 in Grand Slam matches in 2026 and Zverev believes he is currently the best in the world. "You have to take everything into consideration," he said.
"With Jannik Sinner being injured and Carlos Alcaraz coming back from injury after four months, right now, 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." Zverev was so focused on the job at hand, he did not even realise he had won the title when Shelton smacked a service return long. As the umpire announced 'Game, set and match Zverev', the German headed back to the baseline, ready to receive Shelton's serve. It took him a few seconds to register why the cheering fans were giving him a standing ovation - as he belatedly cracked a smile and ran to the net to embrace Shelton.
Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, he said: "I thought the score was 5-1! I knew that I had broken him twice, but I thought he only held once. "I was thinking: 'Okay, I'm going to have a relaxed service game here and then I'll get tight on the next one.' It was lucky for me!
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