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

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.

Ben Shelton can become the first Black winner of the US Open men’s title since Arthur Ashe in 1968, at the stadium which is named in his honour in New York.

Shelton also has the chance to become just the third Black winner of a men’s grand slam singles title after Yannick Noah’s French Open victory in 1983.

“Without Arthur Ashe, my dad probably would have never been playing tennis or had the opportunities that he had to go so far in this sport. This sport has given my family a lot,” Shelton said when asked about the relevance of his finals appearance.

“I think that it’s really cool to be able to recognise that and be a part of history every time, playing in a stadium with his name on it. I think that’s a pretty great honour to have the biggest stadium in tennis named after you and very, very well-deserved.”

Alexander Zverev is back in the US Open for the first time since 2020, when the German lost to Dominic Thiem from two sets up and after serving for the match. He has now won a grand slam title, though, winning the French Open in June for his breakthrough. After also reaching the Wimbledon final this season, Zverev now bids to become a two-time grand slam champion and cap a hugely impressive year.

Zverev was caught up in a couple of epics early in the tournament, playing for almost five hours in rounds one and two. But he’s not dropped a set since then.

• 1R: d. Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 3-6 6-7(7) 7-5 6-4 (4:53)
• 2R: d. Quentin Halys 6-4 4-6 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 6-3 (4:33)
• 3R: d. [25] Alejandro Tabilo 6-2 7-6(2) 6-2 (2:26)
• 4R: d. [21] Luciano Darderi 6-2 6-2 7-6(3) (2:31)
• QF: d. Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2 7-5 6-1 (2:17)
• SF: d. Karen Khachanov 6-3 7-6(7) 7-6(6) (2:58)

Total time on court (19:38), 18-4 in Sets

The eighth seed produced the performance of his life to beat the defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in five sets in the quarter-finals, in a match that finished after 3:30am in the morning. Returning a couple of days later to beat Frances Tiafoe was impressive, too.

• 1R 2:35 d. Tallon Griekspoor 1-6 6-1 7-6(3) 6-2
• 2R 3:24 d. Hubert Hurkacz 6-3 5-7 7-6(3) 7-5
• 3R 3:22 d. Denis Shapovalov 7-6(3) 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4
• 4R 1:52 d. Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2 6-3 6-4
• QF 4:28 d. [2] Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(5) 6-1 6-3 1-6 7-6(7)
• SF 3:17 d. [11] Frances Tiafoe 4-6 6-3 6-3 7-5

Total time on court 18:58, 18-6 in Sets

The US Open men’s final begins at 7pm UK time (2pm ET). It will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Tennis in the UK and ESPN in the US.

History is on the line as Ben Shelton faces Alexander Zverev in the US Open men’s final. The last time an American man won the title in New York, Shelton was one month away from his 1st birthday. Not since Andy Roddick defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero in the 2003 has an American man won the US Open and the home crowd will be fully behind their home hope against the top seed Zverev.