Alexander Zverev Wins U.S. Open
Alexander Zverev beat Ben Shelton to claim his second Grand Slam title.
September 13, 2026 · Updated Sep 13, 7:13pm ET
CNNMen’s top seed Alexander Zverev caps breakthrough year with US Open title
CBS NewsAlexander Zverev wins U.S. Open, beating Ben Shelton to secure second major title
FOX NewsBen Shelton loses in US Open final to Zverev, but America has found its next big men's tennis star
Al JazeeraZverev crushes Shelton’s American dream to win US Open
UPIU.S. Open 2026: Zverev overwhelms Shelton for second Grand Slam title
The Daily WireHey, ESPN: U.S. Open Tennis Doesn’t Need Contrived Racial Storyline To Be Compelling
The GuardianAlexander Zverev claims first US Open after four-set battle with Ben Shelton
NBC NewsAlexander Zverev overtakes Ben Shelton to win U.S. Open final
TIME MagazineAt the U.S. Open, Ben Shelton Has America Believing Again
The New YorkerBen Shelton Comes Into Full Focus
New York MagazineA Queasy Appreciation of Alexander Zverev
Rolling StoneBen Shelton vs. Alexander Zverev Livestream: How to Watch the U.S. Open Men's Tennis Final Online Free
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Left · 7
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Center · 3
17%
Right · 2
Pano rates the coverage Mostly Left.
What happened
Alexander Zverev
Alexander ZverevGerman tennis player (born 1997) defeated Ben Shelton
Ben SheltonAmerican tennis player (born 2002) 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in the U.S. Open men's final Sunday. The victory gave top seed Zverev his first U.S. Open title and second career Grand Slam championship, after his French Open title this year. No. 8 seed Shelton was in his first major final after beating Frances Tiafoe
Frances TiafoeAmerican tennis player. He sought to become the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick
Andy RoddickAmerican tennis player (born 1982) in 2003. The match lasted about three and a half hours; Zverev received the trophy from Jimmy Connors and $5.5 million.
How the left told it
Coverage emphasized Zverev’s place in tennis history and what Shelton’s loss meant for American hopes. CNN and Al Jazeera noted the win gave Zverev his second major and extended the drought for American men. The Guardian framed it as a rare modern-era feat: winning his first two majors in the same season. TIME said Shelton’s run sparked unusual optimism about American men’s tennis.
How the right told it
Coverage focused on a missed American breakthrough, while still casting Shelton as a rising star. Fox News said Shelton had a chance to end a 23-year drought, but Zverev beat him in four sets. It also said Shelton looked nervous early and made quick errors. The Daily Wire focused on media framing, arguing ESPN turned the Shelton-Tiafoe semifinal into an identity-driven story when it should have been treated as tennis.
