Ben Shelton v Alexander Zverev LIVE: US Open final latest score and updates with grand slam history on the line in New York

We had former world No 1 and tennis legend Stan Smith helping us with the coin toss. Smiles from Shelton and Zverev before we get going.

Here we goooo. Ben Shelton walks out onto Arthur Ashe Stadium choosing a song on his phone and with his ears wrapped in massive headphones. Pressure? He looks chilled. He’s followed out by Alexander Zverev. The top seed has headphones, too, but around his neck. No prizes for guessing who got the loudest cheer.

Last year we had Carlos Alcaraz v Jannik Sinner in the US Open men’s final, but Ben Shelton ending the USA’s 23-year wait for a men’s grand slam champion would make this final even more memorable than last year’s Sincaraz trilogy. Alexander Zverev is out to spoil the party, though.

We are just minutes away from the US Open men’s final. It’s been a sodden day in New York but the clouds are clearing and the roof will be opening soon for the final between top seed Alexander Zverev and young American Ben Shelton.

2025 Carlos Alcaraz bt Jannik Sinner 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4

2024 Jannik Sinner bt Taylor Fritz 6-3 6-4 7-5

2023 Novak Djokovic bt Daniil Medvedev 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3

2022 Carlos Alcaraz bt Casper Ruud 6-4 2-6 7-6(1) 6-3

2021 Daniil Medvedev bt Novak Djokovic 6-4 6-4 6-4

2020 Dominic Thiem bt Alexander Zverev 2-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-6(6)

2019 Rafael Nadal bt Daniil Medvedev 7-5 6-3 5-7 4-6 6-4

2018 Novak Djokovic bt Juan Martin del Potro 6-3 7-6(4) 6-3

2017 Rafael Nadal bt Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-3 6-4

2016 Stan Wawrinka bt Novak Djokovic 6-7(1) 6-4 7-5 6-3

Elena Rybakina proved herself to be the undisputed world number one after claiming her first US Open title.

The 27-year-old from Kazakhstan knew she would be top of the rankings from Monday, overtaking her opponent Aryna Sabalenka, whatever the outcome of Saturday’s final.

A defeat would have certainly taken the shine off that achievement, but instead she was crowned the new queen of Queens at Flushing Meadows after a 6-4 5-7 6-2 victory.

Ben Shelton took advice from Rafael Nadal before his break-out run to the US Open final.

The 23-year-old from Florida beat compatriot Frances Tiafoe 4-6 6-3 6-3 7-5 to set up a winner-takes-all showdown with Alexander Zverev on Sunday.

His coach and father, Bryan Shelton, called 22-time grand slam winner Nadal last month after a first-round defeat in Cincinnati.

The Spaniard’s words of wisdom helped his son reset after his sensational five-set win over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-final.

Alexander Zverev is going to be facing a partisan crown when he takes on Ben Shelton in the US Open final, and he could do well to not upset the home fans by taking ages over his ball toss. Zverev was given a time violation during his semi-final win against Karen Khachanov, who later complained about the top seed’s ball-bouncing.

“I mean, the way he bounces the ball, look, it annoys not only me, of course, a lot of players, because it takes so much time,” Khachanov said.

“You don’t know how to prepare for the serve. You are, like, ready, and then it’s another 12 bounces, you know, so you again do a split step. Every point is like that.

“At the end of the day, if it’s within the rules with the time between points, I cannot say anything against that. If he extends the time, then he gets a time violation, so it’s as simple as that.”

Zverev insisted it is not a deliberate ploy. He said: “I have no idea why. I’m not doing it on purpose. I saw a stat, like, I’d bounced it 12,000 times or something like that. That’s quite funny.”

Alexander Zverev has a 44-1 record against left-handers since 2023 Roland Garros, with his only loss coming to Learner Tien in Acapulco. Zverev is also 13-0 against left-handers at the grand slam level since retiring against Rafael Nadal in the 2022 French Open semi-finals due to an ankle injury. The German’s rock solid backhand is the main reason behind his excellent record against left-handed players.

Ben Shelton, meanwhile, is aiming to become the first left-handed US Open champion since Rafael Nadal in 2019.

Alexander Zverev has won all five of his previous meetings with Ben Shelton, but this will be their first match at grand slam level and the best-of-five format where Shelton really turns up. Three of those previous meetings came on a hard court, with Zverev defeating Shelton in the Cincinnati quarter-finals last year and again at the ATP Finals in Turin towards the end of last season.