I know the crowd was against me: Alexander Zverev apologises immediately after winning US Open and ‘bets all his money’
Alexander Zverev apologised immediately after winning the US Open and showed class with his message to the defeated Ben Shelton. Zverev beat the American 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 after a three-and-a-half-hour battle in New York. The title, and £4million prize, continues a remarkable year for Zverev, who beat Flavio Cobolli to win the French Open in June to lift his first ever Grand Slam. He then reached the final of Wimbledon in July but lost to Jannik Sinner.
After beating Shelton to disappoint the partisan home crowd, Zverev headed over to the Shelton camp post-match to personally congratulate each of them. And he then said during his speech to the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd: “Eric [Butorac], first year as a tournament director, congratulations to you for putting up such an amazing event. I’m sorry it’s the wrong winner this year! I did my job but thank you very much, you did amazing. The crowd, I know that today 99.9 per cent of people wanted Ben to win so I’m very sorry, first of all.
“But second, it was an incredible atmosphere to play in. Even though I know the crowd was against me, the crowd was always incredibly fair. We as players appreciate it. You guys brought the energy and the noise and we really thank you guys for that.”
Zverev also made it clear he is backing Shelton, 23, to lift the US Open Tennis Championship trophy himself in future. So much so, the German insisted he would bet all of his money on it. He said to Shelton’s team: “Very first thing I want to start off with, Ben you’re an incredible player and an incredible person.
“This was your first Grand Slam final but I already told you, you’re going to be back here many, many more times. If I had to bet all my money on it, I would bet that you will lift this trophy one day.
“I want to say well done to Ben’s team, to Brian and everyone who is there. To pops. To mum and sister as well, everybody is just important over there as they are on this side of the court. I know it’s exactly what my family is.
“That’s why I’m so happy to see you guys in these kind of finals and win Masters events and big tournaments. It’s a family affair and everybody is pulling on the same strings to be successful. Congratulations to you, everybody who is there. You guys really deserve it.”
With this Slam, world No.2 Zverev further improves his lead over the third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP rankings and also trims the gap to No.1 Sinner, who missed this year’s US Open through injury. Zverev famously lost the 2020 final of this major to Dominic Thiem, collapsing after building a two-set lead.
And New York’s new champion continued: “I want to thank my team. We went 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now we won two in the span of three months.
“I think God has seen how hard we worked, how much we suffered, how much pain we went through. I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before. Thank you you guys, you guys are absolutely amazing and I couldn’t be here without you guys.
I want to thank one more person who is never actually watching my matches. The most important person in my tennis life and my life in general.
“When your four-year-old son gets diagnosed with diabetes and doctors say life and sports will be very, very limited for that child, it takes a very, very strong mother to walk out of those offices and say ‘My son will be whatever he wants to be, if he wants to be a tennis player, he will be a tennis player. This illness will not define us.’
“I’m happy that we worked through it and we’re doing the things 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 so thanks to her as well.”
While Shelton said in his runner-up speech: “First and most importantly I want to thank God. My successes are a gift, the failures are a gift and being here and playing in front of you guys is a gift. Sascha, congrats on these two weeks man. Your second Grand Slam title. Two in one year.
“You’re one of the very best players in the world, maybe the best player in the world this year. What you’re doing is incredible the way you’re serving, the way you’re moving and playing. You work harder than anyone I know. You put more hours on the court than anyone I know.
“You and your team do things the right way and I’m sincerely happy for you guys to hold this title. It’s been a long time coming here.”
After thanking his team, the Floridian signed off with: “To the city of New York, to the fans who showed up today, the fans at home, the people who have been here all week, the people that stayed until 4am…
“You guys drove me and brought me to the position I want to be in – in the finals of these tournaments. I’m just getting started. I’ll be back here again. Thank you so much
