The finals took place two weekends ago, but New York only finished digesting this US Open now. The men's title went for the first time to top seed Alexander Zverev; the women's, for a third straight time, to Aryna Sabalenka. Two results, two different meanings: one closed a debt, the other opened an era.
Zverev: 17 attempts and a first trophy
It was the German's 17th US Open — and his first trophy. The final against Ben Shelton, 7-6(5), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, lasted three hours and two minutes. Shelton, the 23-year-old American, had removed defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in five sets in the semi-finals and, for two weeks, gave the United States hope of a home champion — their drought stretches back to 2003. But the final came down to serve and discipline, and there Zverev has had the tour's best season: 91 percent of service games held across the tournament. "I stopped playing against the score," he said at the ceremony. It is the German's third major and his first since the 2022 ankle injury.
Sabalenka: a third straight title and the greats conversation
Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 — and, for the first time since Serena Williams (2012-14), a woman wins three US Opens in a row. It is her fifth Grand Slam title. Gauff recovered from 1-3 in the second set and took five straight games, but in the deciding stretch Sabalenka did what champions do: two breaks at 4-4, then match serve closed on the first ball. "Now we can talk about a legacy," was Chris Evert's line after the final. Let us: 26 years old, five slams, and not one soft hard-court season since 2023.
What comes next: Davis Cup and the Asian autumn
The draw produced no shock on the scale of past years — but it did produce three five-set quarter-finals on the men's side and four three-setters in the women's third round. Djokovic reached the fourth round and hinted at continuing his season. Now the calendar turns to the Davis Cup: the Finals group stage runs this week, followed by the Asian 1000s and the ATP Finals in November. For Zverev and Sabalenka, a season of big goals continues. For everyone else, it starts all over again.
