The 2026 US Open is heading into its final weekend in New York with American Ben Shelton one victory away from ending a 23-year U.S. men’s Grand Slam singles title drought. Alexander Zverev stands between Shelton and a breakthrough championship, while Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are set to contest the women’s title at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Ben Shelton Reaches His First Grand Slam Final
Shelton secured the biggest final of his career by defeating fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in Friday’s semifinal.
The 23-year-old recovered after dropping the opening set and gradually took control with the powerful serving and aggressive baseline play that have defined his run in New York. His victory moved him into his first Grand Slam singles final and created an opportunity to end one of the longest-running droughts in American men’s tennis.
No American man has won a Grand Slam singles championship since Andy Roddick captured the 2003 US Open.
Shelton’s run also carries wider historical significance. He is the first Black American man to reach the US Open singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972 and the first Black American man to reach a Grand Slam singles final since MaliVai Washington at Wimbledon in 1996.
His path to the championship match included one of the tournament’s most dramatic results, a five-set quarterfinal victory over Carlos Alcaraz that was decided in a final-set tiebreak.
Alexander Zverev Stands Between Shelton and History
Zverev reached Sunday’s championship match with a straight-sets semifinal victory over Karen Khachanov, winning 6-3, 7-6, 7-6.
The German enters the final with a significant advantage from his previous meetings with Shelton. Zverev has won all five of their encounters, leaving the American with another major challenge as he attempts to complete his breakthrough tournament.
Zverev’s experience at the closing stages of major tournaments could also prove important. Shelton, meanwhile, will be entering a Grand Slam singles final for the first time.
The men’s championship match is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. It will conclude a tournament that began Aug. 30 and produced several notable departures before arriving at an unexpected opportunity for an American men’s champion.
Sabalenka and Rybakina Battle for Women’s Championship
Before the men decide their champion, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will meet in Saturday’s women’s singles final.
The matchup brings together two of the leading players in women’s tennis and carries major implications beyond the championship trophy.
Sabalenka enters the final with a 19-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows and is pursuing a third consecutive US Open title. Winning would place her alongside a select group of players to dominate the tournament across three straight seasons.
Serena Williams was the most recent woman to win three consecutive US Open singles championships, taking the title in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Rybakina has another milestone secured from her run in New York. She has accumulated enough ranking points to move to world No. 1 when the rankings are updated, regardless of the result in the final.
The championship match also renews a rivalry that has become increasingly important at the top of the women’s game. Rybakina defeated Sabalenka in their Australian Open final earlier in 2026, adding another layer to their latest Grand Slam meeting.
Doubles Champions Crowned in New York
Several championships have already been decided during the closing stages of the tournament.
Christian Harrison and Neal Skupski won the men’s doubles championship Saturday, defeating Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 6-4, 7-6. The victory gave Harrison and Skupski another major title during a successful 2026 season.
Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend captured the women’s doubles championship with a comeback victory over Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery.
After losing the opening set 5-7, Siniakova and Townsend dominated the second before completing a 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 victory. The result also gave the partnership another significant achievement at Grand Slam level.
US Open 2026 Heads Toward a High-Stakes Finish
The final two singles matches carry distinctly different historical possibilities.
Sabalenka can extend her dominance in New York by securing a third consecutive championship, while Rybakina has the opportunity to combine her rise to world No. 1 with another Grand Slam title.
Sunday will then turn the spotlight to Shelton. Victory would give him his first major championship and make him the first American man in more than two decades to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Zverev, however, enters with an unbeaten record against Shelton and the experience required to handle a major final. Their meeting ensures the 2026 US Open will close with either an American breakthrough or another major milestone for one of the leading players in men’s tennis.
