Zverev hails mother’s belief after US Open triumph

NEW YORK – Family was at the heart of Alexander Zverev’s US Open triumph on Sept 13, as the German thanked his mother for refusing to let his diabetes define his future after he claimed a second Grand Slam title.

The top seed beat American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 at Flushing Meadows to complete a spectacular year at the Grand Slams in which he proved his doubters wrong.

Zverev had come agonisingly close to capturing his maiden Grand Slam title in New York in 2020, leading Dominic Thiem by two sets to none and later serving for the match in the fifth set before losing.

He finally won his first major crown at the 2026 French Open after defeating Flavio Cobolli in five sets, and the 29-year-old German doubled his tally in New York despite making a shaky start to the fortnight.

Shortly after his victory over Shelton, Zverev reserved his most heartfelt thanks for his mother Irina, a former professional tennis player, crediting her with refusing to let Type 1 diabetes dictate his future.

“When your four-year-old son is diagnosed with diabetes, and doctors in the office tell you that life and sports will be very limited for that child, it takes a very strong mother to say, ‘my son will be whatever he wants to be’,” Zverev said.

“If he wants to be a tennis player, he’ll be a tennis player. If he wants to do something else, he’ll do something else, but this illness will not define us.

“I’m happy that we worked through it, and we’re doing things that we’re doing right now. My mother is the most important and strongest person I know, because it takes an unbelievably strong woman to do what she did.”

He also hailed his team, which includes his father, Alexander Zverev Sr, and his brother Mischa, for the hard work that had delivered him another major crown.

“We went almost 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now we’ve won two in a span of three months,” he said.

“I think God has seen how hard we’ve worked, how much we’ve suffered, how much pain we went through, and I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before. Thank you, you are absolutely amazing and I couldn’t be here without you.”

Zverev also paid tribute to the 23-year-old Shelton, saying: “This was your first Grand Slam final, but I already told you you’re going to be back here many more times, and if I would have to bet all my money on it, I would bet that you would lift this trophy one day.”

High hopes

Hopes were high that Shelton could end a 23-year American wait for a men’s Grand Slam champion after his epic five-set quarter-final victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, and a comeback win over compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals.

But Zverev’s all-court excellence proved too much for Shelton, despite the support of a star-studded Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd trying to will the American to victory.

With their backing, Shelton surged in the third set, eliminating the errors that Zverev had ruthlessly exploited.

Serving to extend the set, Zverev fell behind 0-40. Shelton fired long on his first set point, but on the second, Zverev’s forehand volley went wide. Shelton had his first break of the match, and they were headed to a fourth set.

Zverev, however, responded immediately and decisively, breaking Shelton in the first game of the fourth set and rolling home.

He lifted his arms in triumph after Shelton fired a serve return long on match point, and finally received his own huge cheer from the crowd – but not before some prompting.

Zverev said he did not initially realise he had won because he had lost track of the score.

“I knew I broke him twice, but I thought it was 5-1 instead of 6-2, which helped me in a way because I didn’t really get nervous serving out the match,” Zverev said.

“In that moment, I was in the zone a lot. I didn’t hear noise at all. Then also, of course, when the crowd is loud, it’s impossible to hear the umpire, so I didn’t hear that she said, ‘Game, set, match’.”

Shelton, the first black American man in 54 years to contest the New York final after Arthur Ashe, said: “My successes are a gift, the failures are a gift, and being here playing in front of you guys is a gift.”

His girlfriend, Olympic champion football player Trinity Rodman, made it to his player’s box after racing 320km from her Washington Spirit game, which largely overlapped with the start of his match.

The victory will no doubt help Zverev move beyond a series of Grand Slam disappointments. The German’s career has also been overshadowed by allegations of domestic violence, which he has repeatedly denied.

His two majors this season have made a dent in the duopoly of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who won all eight Grand Slam titles across 2024 and 2025.

Alcaraz, who won the 2026 Australian Open, exited the US Open in a quarter-final defeat by Shelton after a long injury layoff, while Sinner pulled out injured before the tournament began after winning Wimbledon.

Asked if he considered himself the world’s top player now, Zverev said, “With Jannik Sinner being injured and Carlos Alcaraz coming back from injury after four months, right now, this moment, probably yes.

“Both of them healthy and both of them at the top of their game, maybe not.

“If everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead. It’s as simple as that.” REUTERS, AFP