Alexander Zverev claimed the 2026 US Open men’s singles title on Sunday, securing his second major championship of the year and a record $5.5 million (£4.1 million) in prize money. The German, currently world No. 2, overcame American hopeful Ben Shelton in four sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Zverev’s Dominant Year and Earnings

Zverev’s four-set victory, 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2, followed his triumph at Roland Garros in June, marking a marquee year for the 29-year-old, according to Sportico.com. His US Open win alone pushed his on-court prize money past Italy’s Jannik Sinner, reaching $14.72 million for 2026, compared to Sinner’s $11.62 million. Prior to this victory, Zverev had also earned $2.4 million (£1.8 million) for finishing runner-up at Wimbledon in July. This success allows Zverev to retain his world No. 2 ranking on the ATP Tour, narrowing the gap with top-ranked Sinner, who withdrew from the tournament due to injury. Addressing the New York crowd after his win, Zverev said, “I know 99% of the people wanted Ben to win, so I’m sorry, but it was an incredible atmosphere to play in.”

However, Zverev’s year of success comes amidst ongoing scrutiny regarding his off-court conduct. He has been a controversial figure in tennis in recent years due to domestic abuse allegations from two previous partners. Zverev has consistently maintained his innocence regarding both accounts, though he agreed to a $218,000 settlement in 2024 with one of his ex-girlfriends in a German court.

Record Prize Fund and Equal Payouts

The 2026 US Open featured a record-breaking total prize fund of $108 million (£80m), with both the men’s and women’s singles champions each receiving $5.5 million (£4.1 million), as reported by Wales Online. This year’s champions’ payout represents the biggest winner’s prize in tennis history, an increase from $5 million last year, according to USA Today. The tournament continues its commitment to equal prize money across the men’s and women’s singles competitions. Runners-up in both categories received $2.8 million. Even participants in the main draw’s first round saw a payout increase to $140,000, while qualifying first-round payouts received a 16% bump to $32,000. In doubles, Karolina Muchová and Jakub Menšík won the mixed doubles championship, sharing $1 million as a team.

Women’s Singles and Rising Stars

In the women’s singles final on Saturday, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to secure her second major title of 2026, having previously won January’s Australian Open. Rybakina’s run to the title also saw her ascend to the world No. 1 ranking for the first time, overtaking Sabalenka after her quarterfinal victory over Qinwen Zheng. Rybakina expressed her elation, stating, “It’s [been] an amazing journey, and hopefully I can continue to stay at the top as long as possible.”

Despite his loss, American Ben Shelton is set to achieve a career-high world No. 4 ranking. Shelton’s performance, which included upsetting defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and becoming the first Black American man to reach the final since Arthur Ashe, is expected to boost his commercial appeal significantly. Tom Chapman, head of commercial at WME Sports, which represents Shelton, told Sportico that he anticipates new endorsements, particularly with luxury brands, in the near future.