Zverev, on his tremendous lapse after winning the US Open: “If I had known I would have committed three double faults instead of one”

Alexander Zverev was proclaimed champion of the US Open 2026 this Sunday. The German added his second Grand Slam of the season, after Roland Garros, after beating Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7 and 6-2 in an intense final in which he showed greater concentration than his young and inexperienced rival.

However, the tension of the moment led him to not realizing that he had been proclaimed champion after winning the last point.

It took Zverev several seconds to realize that the match was over, an action he was later asked about.

“I thought the score was 5-1, honestly.. Which helped me, because probably if I had known I would have committed three double faults instead of one,” he commented in an interview with the ESPN network.

Already at a press conference, the champion was asked if he feels like the best tennis player in the world right now. “I don’t know how to answer that. You have to take everything into account. With Jannik Sinner injured and Carlos Alcaraz returning after a four-month injuryWell, at this precise moment, right now, probably yes,” said the one from Hamburg, very respectful of the situation of the ‘Big 2’.

“If they were both healthy and in full performance, maybe it wouldn’t be, because When they were good, I wasn’t the best“Sascha added.

And he pointed to the real No. 1, according to his criteria. “I was losing to Sinner constantly, four or five months ago. If everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is ahead of everyone. The issue is that simple,” he added.