Alexander Zverev Wins New Huge Payout at 2026 US Open
Alexander Zverev is the 2026 US Open champion. The German defeated American Ben Shelton in the men’s singles final on Sunday, September 13, at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, winning his first US Open title and his second Grand Slam of the year.
Alexander Zverev Takes the Win
Zverev, 29, beat Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2. In his on-court speech, he acknowledged that most of the crowd had been backing Shelton, telling them he knew “99% of the people wanted Ben to win.”
The result denied Shelton, 23, what would have been the first US Open singles title for an American man since Andy Roddick in 2003. It was Shelton’s first Grand Slam final.
The Prize Money
Zverev earned $5.5 million for the win, the largest singles prize awarded at a Grand Slam to date. Shelton took home $2.8 million as runner-up. The 2026 US Open awarded $108 million in total prize money, a 20 percent increase from $90 million in 2025, as Sportico reported.
The title added to a strong year for Zverev, who won his first Grand Slam at the French Open in June and reached the Wimbledon final in July. His 2026 prize-money earnings now total more than $14 million.
Around the Win
Zverev thanked his mother for supporting him through a type 1 diabetes diagnosis at age 4, and accepted the trophy from Jimmy Connors.
Elena Rybakina won the women’s singles title and the same $5.5 million prize; the US Open has awarded equal prize money to men and women since 1973. Glitter has long followed the tournament’s history-making champions. Were you rooting for Zverev or Shelton?
