Zverev holds off Shelton to win US Open title

New York, USA: Alexander Zverev held off Ben Shelton to win the US Open on Sunday, capturing the second Grand Slam of his career just months after winning the French Open.

The top-seeded German ruthlessly snuffed out a late surge by Shelton to triumph 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-2, crushing the eighth seed's hopes of becoming the first US man in 23 years to win a Grand Slam title. liveiplscore.homes

Zverev expunged the bitter memory of his 2020 US Open defeat, when he was two points from victory before falling to Dominic Thiem in five sets.

It would be six years -- with two major finals disappointments -- before he would break through this season.

"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 at the trophy presentation.

The 23-year-old Shelton was one month shy of his first birthday when Andy Roddick hoisted the 2003 US Open trophy in the last major triumph for a US man.

Hopes were high that Shelton could end the drought after his epic five-set quarter-final victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, and a come-from-behind 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.

Alexander Zverev of Germany with the trophy after defeating Ben Shelton of the United States in their Men's Singles Final match on Day Fifteen of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 13, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Julian Finney/Getty Images/AFP)

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 didn't initially realize he'd 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.'"

Zverev had followed up his French Open victory with a runner-up finish at Wimbledon.

But his New York prospects had looked bleak as he labored through two five-setters to start the tournament.

Now the 29-year-old ranked second in the world has a chance to challenge for the number one ranking with Italian Jannik Sinner currently sidelined by a knee injury.USA's Ben Shelton reacts after losing the men's singles final tennis match to Germany's Alexander Zverev on day fifteen of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 13, 2026. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

With this win, Zverev said he might consider himself the best player in the world "right, right now."

"If everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead."

Very few chances

Shelton had entered to a massive ovation but from the start the sharpness that carried him past Alcaraz and Tiafoe was lacking.

Zverev, with utter calm and a superb serve, quickly asserted his authority with a break in the first game, Shelton double faulting on break point.

Eight games later the American double faulted on set point.

Shelton rallied from 0-30 down to force the second-set tiebreaker, but was helpless as Zverev roared to a 5-0 lead and took a two-sets-to-none lead with a service winner.

Shelton gave it all he had in the third, hitting the deck as he chased one blistering Zverev forehand. Although he capitalized on uncharacteristic errors from the German to extend the match there was no stopping Zverev in the final set.

"I made too many errors when I had the ball there on my strings," Shelton said. "I wasn't amazing attacking on my forehand today. I wasn't great in transition.

"It's not easy," he added. "Playing a guy like him there's very few chances."

Juan Bezerra requested to leave Zamalek and accepted disciplinary sanctions, with any sale pending board approval.

The Brazilian winger agreed with club officials to issue a public apology for his absence from training. However, the meeting did not produce final approval for his departure, according to sources.

The source said the club were leaning towards a sale, but the board would review the meeting’s conclusions before making its decision.

Bezerra coordinated his subsequent apology with Zamalek officials as part of the discussions. In an Instagram statement, the winger apologised to the board, coaching staff, teammates and supporters, while confirming his willingness to accept disciplinary action. He also made clear that he still wanted a transfer.

“I have chosen to leave because I believe I now have a great opportunity that may not come again,” Bezerra wrote, describing the opportunity as a “dream” for himself and his family, while thanking Zamalek for their efforts to keep him.

Zamalek’s media chief, Maher Gharib, subsequently told Modern Sport during a TV appearance that the club wanted a package worth $7 million and a 20% sell-on clause.

Gharib said Bezerra would not join Monday’s training session and that Zamalek would not force him to stay against his wishes. The club would announce its position once all requirements were met, he added.

Shabab Al Ahli remain the prospective destination. Just yesterday, Gharib said the White Knights would seek a $6 million transfer fee, but those figures differ from Gharib’s demands today.

Bezerra returned to Cairo on Saturday after his prolonged absence, fulfilling Zamalek’s requirement that he return before discussions over his future, as KingFut previously reported.

The winger joined Zamalek from Ukrainian club Oleksandriya in 2025 on a contract running until 2029. He helped the White Knights win last season’s Egyptian Premier League title.

The post Bezerra Accepts Sanctions as Zamalek Exit Talks Await Decision appeared first on KingFut.

Liverpool: Andoni Iraola admitted there would be "ups and downs" for Liverpool as he searches for consistency early in his Anfield reign following a stuttering start to the season.

The former Bournemouth boss, who replaced the sacked Arne Slot, oversaw a frustrating 0-0 stalemate against Fulham on Saturday, following morale-boosting wins over Ipswich and Atletico Madrid.

Liverpool, already well off the pace in the Premier League, next face goal-shy Tottenham in the third round of the League Cup at Anfield on Tuesday.

"I understand the frustration the other day (against Fulham) because we were also frustrated," said Iraola.

"We were coming from two good games, and we were considering, 'OK, it's a step forward'. You switch, it's a step forward, Atletico Madrid... and then it's a step backwards.

"The performance level is not like the two other days. But this happens in football. We have to accept it in terms of there are going to be ups and downs in this process.

"But we are clear that where we want to go is more towards where we've been, Atletico Madrid, Ipswich. That's the kind of style, that's the kind of football that we want. And I think now the key is the consistency to perform like this."

The Liverpool manager, appointed in June, said he was content with the resources at his disposal, bolstered by the signings of Bradley Barcola, Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz.

Iraola suggested he would make changes for the Spurs game as he balances the demands of multiple competitions, confirming Giorgi Mamardashvili would start in goal in place of number one Alisson Becker.

"I am very happy with the squad, I value a lot the players we have. If we win games, the squad will look amazing and fantastic," he said.

"If we don't win, there are going to be problems -- if it's not the depth, it's going to be whatever. But I think we will see also tomorrow players that we haven't seen still, and I am really looking forward to see, because I feel they are going to play well, or they can help us, and probably they still haven't had the chance."