A hilarious moment was caught on camera after top seed Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in the men’s singles final at the 2026 US Open. When Shelton’s return sailed beyond the baseline on match point, Zverev initially failed to realise that he had won his maiden US Open title. However, a section of the German crowd quickly alerted him, prompting the jubilant Zverev to raise his arms in celebration with a broad smile on his face.

HE DIDN’T REALIZE HE’D WON

Advertisement

Alexander Zverev exorcises his 2020 demons and defeats Shelton 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 to win his first US Open title! pic.twitter.com/f0Cnl2xvgI

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 13, 2026

Zverev won his second major championship and disappointed a crowd that was desperate to see the first Grand Slam title by an American man since 2003.

Zverev finally broke through in the majors by winning this year’s French Open and followed up by adding the title in New York that he so painfully let slip away in 2020.

The No. 1 seed in a Grand Slam for the first time, he capitalized on Shelton’s shaky start in his first major final, played a nearly flawless tiebreaker on serve and then turned back a comeback attempt in front of a crowd that feverishly cheered Shelton on – including girlfriend Trinity Rodman, who made it from her own soccer match in Washington before the finish.

“I know today 99.9% of the people wanted Ben to win, so I’m very sorry first of all,” Zverev said during the trophy presentation. “But second, it was an incredible atmosphere to play in. Even though I know that the crowd was against me, the crowd was always incredibly fair.”

Zverev also reached the final at Wimbledon, falling to Jannik Sinner, and became the No. 1 seed in New York when the top-ranked Sinner had to withdraw with a knee injury. He made the most of opportunities that came when Carlos Alcaraz had to sit out two majors and Sinner missed another, after they played in three straight Grand Slam finals in 2025.

“I think God has seen how hard we worked, how much we suffered, how much pain we went through and I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before,” Zverev said, addressing his team.

(With AP Inputs)

Featured Video Of The Day

Spain’s Royal Family Welcomes World Cup Champions To Zarzuela Palace

Man United conceded a controversial winner against Manchester City that decided the derby at Old Trafford

Lisandro Martinez has demanded an explanation from the Premier League after Manchester City’s controversial winner against Manchester United. City went down to ten men in the first half after Phil Foden kicked out at Bruno Fernandes.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead when Josko Gvardiol’s cross was deflected into the path of Erling Haaland who scored. Initially, the flag went up to indicate that it was offside. However, VAR overruled the on-field decision as they ruled that Haaland was onside and that Enzo Fernandez did not touch the ball in the centre.

Martinez was the defender in the centre who was closest to both Fernandez and Haaland. Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, he was left fuming with the officials. The Argentina international said: “I think it was offside. What I can’t understand is the rules.

“He was there. I went to him because he was there in front of me. That is why Haaland was free at the back.

“I want to be calm now, I want to control myself. It is so hard because you lose the derby, you lose three points at home.

“Every season they come to our club, explain for one hour, one hour 30 minutes the rules and they look so confident with that. Then after that, five, six people doing this kind of mistake in the Premier League. It’s the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world.

“Now we have to go home with this injustice.” He then continued: “It was difficult because I had two players and I was 50/50 so I had to take the first man.

“As simple as that. As simple as that. Let’s see what they have to say now.”

After the decision, the Premier League Match Centre wrote on X: “VAR checked the referee’s call of no goal for offside – and determined that Haaland was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded.

“The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn’t play the ball.”

As he stepped up to the baseline, Alexander Zverev could be forgiven for letting his mind slip back to the last time he served for the US Open title.

Six years ago, the German top seed threw away a two-set lead in a devastating loss to Dominic Thiem, having served for the match in the fifth set.

Advertisement

This time, instead of his own nerves, it was American Ben Shelton and the majority of the 24,000-strong crowd that stood in Zverev’s way.

But this was a different Zverev: a Grand Slam champion now, having won the French Open in June.

Such was his focus that he did not initially realise he had sealed a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-2 victory.

After firing down another unstoppable serve to win the match, Zverev returned to the baseline ready to start the next point – only to be told by his team the match was over.

As the realisation sunk, the 29-year-old broke into a broad and slightly surprised smile before raising his arms above his head.

Advertisement

The scenes were in direct contrast to his defeat by Thiem in 2020, where a tearful Zverev said during the trophy presentation: “I wish one day I can bring the trophy home”.

Now, his wish has come true.

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

“2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before.”

Zverev’s parents were not there for his last final in Flushing Meadows, but his father and coach Alexander senior was on the sidelines this time.

As well as paying tribute to his father, Zverev also thanked his mother for her support following his diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a child.

Advertisement

“When doctors 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.

“My mother is the most important and strongest person I know.”

‘He was in a trance-like state’

World number two Zverev has enjoyed his best year on the Tour, reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open and the final at Wimbledon alongside his French Open and US Open successes.

He has been aided by injuries to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who swept the majors in the past two seasons, but a strengthened mentality and dedication to fitness has also helped.

Advertisement

“There is no-one as fit as Zverev, he is right up there,” former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“You can argue about Alcaraz and Sinner, and Novak [Djokovic] and Rafa [Nadal] when they were in their prime physically, but Zverev is right up there as one of the best athletes to play the sport.”

Zverev was taken to five sets in his first two matches, with both finishing in the early hours of the New York morning.

He was two points from defeat in the first round, but rallied, played his way into form and did not drop a set from the third round until the final.

Advertisement

Faced with a partisan crowd against Shelton, Zverev did not buckle. He kept his emotions deliberately in check and, even though he lost the third set, never loosened his grip on the match.

“I’m so admiring of his strength of character and the zen-like state he’s been in since the very beginning of the match,” former British number one Annabel Croft.

“The most extraordinary thing was – and I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed it – was that he didn’t realise he had won.

“It was so bizarre, but it was like he was in a trance-like state while he was playing.”

His serve – one of the best on the ATP Tour – was key against Shelton.

Advertisement

He won 39 of 42 points behind his first serve in the first two sets and did not face a break point until the middle of the third.

Shelton broke at the end of the third set to extend the match but the American made little impact in return games from then on, winning only four of 20 receiving points in set four

Victory means he will now have the world number one ranking in his sights – he trails Sinner by 1,810 points with two Masters 1000 events and the season-ending ATP Tour finals to come.

But Zverev is a polarising figure in tennis.

In October 2023, he was given a penalty order and fined 450,000 euros (£392,000) for bodily harm against his ex-partner, who he shares a child with.

Advertisement

Zverev denied the claims and lodged an objection against the order. A trial in May 2024 was discontinued after a week and there was a separate settlement between Zverev and his ex-girlfriend.

At the time, the court told BBC Sport: “The decision is not a verdict and it is not a decision about guilt or innocence.”

Zverev was also accused in October 2020 of physical violence and controlling behaviour by another former girlfriend. He maintained his innocence from the start and there were no legal proceedings.

The betting public suffered a setback with the defeat of the favourite, Oliveanotherday, in the Bobbie Lewis Stakes at Flemington.

Trained by Tom Dabernig, the sprinter was the $1.60 favourite for the 1200m Group 2 race down the Flemington straight on Saturday but did not appear comfortable on the demanding track during its first attempt.

Jockey Harry Coffey reported to Dabernig that the sprinter failed to produce its usual turn of foot, finishing fifth, just over a length behind the winner, Losesomewinmore.

Dabernig stated that plans to contest the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 26 are still viable despite the result.

The public support for Oliveanotherday was so substantial that Losesomewinmore was the second betting choice at $12.

Under the direction of Craig Williams, Losesomewinmore raced towards the inside of the track, winning by a long-neck from Hedged ($13), with Enxuto ($151) a further long-head back in third.

Losesomewinmore is prepared by the Adelaide-based father-and-daughter training duo, Richard and Chantelle Jolly, who established a satellite base at Flemington last year.

Richard Jolly noted the advantages the Flemington team has experienced due to reduced travel.

“In previous years we have been going back and forth with them,” Jolly said. “He’s based here and it makes life easier and we will get another run or two out of him than we would normally get.”

Although drawing an inside barrier can sometimes be a disadvantage, Jolly explained after the race that Williams was content to maintain a position along the fence.

“Craig said before the race that we had drawn in, so we might as well not look to be getting out,” Jolly said. “He thought the track was pretty even and we would be better to take those inside runs as there would be room there and it worked out brilliantly.”

Losesomewinmore has now won six times down the Flemington straight, over distances ranging from 1000m to 1200m.

Jolly indicated that the Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 3 is likely to be the sprinter’s next start.

“I don’t think there’s any reason to take him around a corner for the rest of the spring,” Jolly said. “The Gilgai is coming up, there are some nice Moonee Valley races going to other tracks, so we’ll be mindful of where he’s going to be weighted the best.

“He got in really well today with the 53 (kilos) which obviously made a big difference.”

Bet on the upcoming races with leading online bookmakers.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scored the winner in the derby as the Blues beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford

Erling Haaland admitted he took the prospect of him being offside for his derby day winner personally as 10-man Manchester City beat Manchester United.

City were reduced to 10 men after Phil Foden received a red card for lashing out at Bruno Fernandes in the first half. However, it was City who hit the front on the hour mark when Haaland steered in Josko Gvardiol’s deflected cross. Initially, the assistant referee raised his flag but VAR officials at Stockley Park checked the decision and, after a lengthy delay, found that Haaland was in line with the ball when Gvardiol crossed.

Then, the attention turned to Enzo Fernandez in the centre. He was in an offside position but crucially did not touch the ball. This was enough to satisfy VAR that the offside should be overruled and the goal should stand.

When asked about the goal at full time, Haaland told Sky Sports: “I thought maybe someone flicked it. When I found out no one flicked it, I took it personally that they thought I was offside because I’m never usually offside.

“It’s always nice to win football games, but especially with 10 men for 60 minutes at Old Trafford, it’s such a nice feeling, especially with the fans at the end. To look at all the faces of the supporters at the end is just a great feeling.”

City were thankful to Gianluigi Donnarumma in added time when he produced a superb save to deny Bryan Mbeumo. Replays showed the United man may have been offside, but that did not detract from the quality of the save.

On his goalkeeper, Haaland added: “What a save from Gianluigi Donnarumma at the end as well. He’s like a wolf in the goal, he looks like a wolf anyway.

“He’s a mad man and to have a guy like that in the goal behind you just makes you feel so much more safe.”

Jaxson Dart decided to bring some sort of “lucky charm” when arriving for the first game of the 2026 season, and fans were confused about what to make of it.

On Sunday, the New York Giants quarterback was spotted wearing a black suit and shades and carrying a black bag and a drink as he entered MetLife Stadium for a game against the Dallas Cowboys:

There was a variety of reactions to the sighting:

The game against the Cowboys marks Dart’s first time starting a Week 1 game, as he sat on the bench behind Russell Wilson in his 2025 debut. During practice on Wednesday, he expressed his excitement at this milestone:

“I think that I’ve just been waiting for this. I think this is just the coolest stage, the coolest opportunity to play in front of our fans, Sunday night football against a team like the Cowboys and go out there and compete and it’s going to be an electric atmosphere and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Meanwhile, head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke about his mindset entering the game:

“I know he’s prepared. He couldn’t have prepared any more or work any harder, or been more determined to be ready. I know he knows the game plan. … He’s worked really hard. He’s diligent. He wants to do well. He wants to understand everything inside out. He wants to be sharp and on point. So, he’s prepared to play.”

Giants OC Matt Nagy gets candid on plans for Jaxson Dart in Week 1 opener vs. Cowboys

A day after John Harbaugh and Jaxson Dart spoke, it was offensive coordinator Matt Nagy’s turn, among others’. In his media session, he expressed his vision of letting the quarterback “be himself”:

“We want Jaxson to be able to play fast. … And it’s our job as coaches to take all this time that we’ve had to do it. And that’s what we’ve put together: a game plan that we think is to his strengths. But at the same time, we got to make sure that there’s going to be times where we just got to let him cut it loose and continue to build every week.”

He continued:

“This isn’t ‘There’s going to be good plays, there’s going to be bad plays,’ but how does he keep that up? … So, I want him to stay calm, extremely confident, play fast and execute and just be a complete leader, but also just be himself, man. Cut it loose and have fun.”

Kickoff for the Giants-Cowboys game is at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.