Alexander Zverev triumphs at US Open, pays tribute to mother
Alexander Zverev claimed victory at the US Open, defeating American player Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in a three-and-a-half-hour match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, securing a £4 million prize and his second Grand Slam title, reports BritPanorama.
Following the match, Zverev used his victory speech to reflect on his childhood diabetes diagnosis, which doctors warned could limit his life and sporting ambitions. He commended his mother for resisting such limitations.
“When your four-year-old son gets diagnosed with diabetes and doctors say life and sports will be very, very limited for that child, it takes a very, very strong mother to walk out of those offices and say, ‘My son will be whatever he wants to be’,” Zverev stated. He expressed gratitude for their journey, noting, “My mother is the most important and strongest person I know because it takes an unbelievably strong woman to do what she did.”
Zverev’s victory marks a significant turnaround in his career. After entering 2026 without a major title, he won the French Open in June before narrowly losing in the Wimbledon final to Jannik Sinner. “We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now we won two in the span of three months,” he noted, crediting hard work and perseverance.
In a show of sportsmanship, Zverev apologised to the pro-Shelton crowd and congratulated his opponent’s team, acknowledging the promising future ahead for Shelton: “If I had to bet all my money on it, I would bet that you will lift this trophy one day.”
This victory also solidifies Zverev’s position as the second-ranked player in the ATP rankings while decreasing the gap with the injured world No 1, Sinner. The journey that brought him to this moment illustrates not only personal resolve but also the unpredictable nature of sports, where the past can all too easily shape the present.
