US Open Tennis 2026 Men's Final Bracket Prediction and Prize Money

The last time an American man won a Grand Slam title was in 2003, when Andy Roddick claimed victory at the US Open.

To put that in perspective: LeBron James had not yet made his NBA debut, Aaron Rodgers had not yet played in the NFL, and the "Big Three" of tennis had only one major title among them.

This Sunday, 23-year-old Ben Shelton will try to end that two-decade drought as he faces top seed Alexander Zverev in the US Open final.

Can Shelton become the first American man in over 20 years to win a Grand Slam? Will Zverev overcome the agony of 2020, when he lost a two-set lead in the US Open final?

Below, we'll cover all that and more ahead of Sunday's final.

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Date: Sunday, September 13

Location: Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, New York

Time: 2 p.m. ET

TV: ABC

Streaming: ESPN APP

Prize Money: $5,500,000 (winner), $2,800,000 (runner-up)

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Ben Shelton is just one win away from becoming the first American man to capture a Grand Slam title since 2003.

To get there, he'll need to overcome his past struggles.

The 23-year-old has lost all five of his previous matches against Alexander Zverev.

But this version of Shelton is a different one.

The No. 8 seed has developed a nearly complete game, blending offense and defense seamlessly and mixing in blistering 140-MPH serves.

His quarterfinal victory over Carlos Alcaraz showcased his progress perfectly, as he overwhelmed the Spaniard with relentless defense and outstanding athleticism.

Meanwhile, Zverev arrives at Sunday's showdown riding yet another straight-sets win.

The top-ranked German has been almost unbreakable, at one point winning 37 consecutive service games.

Zverev may be a slight favorite, but given Shelton's remarkable improvement, this matchup feels like a true toss-up.

Given his current form, Shelton should have more than enough to end America's two-decade-plus drought.

Prediction: No. 8 Ben Shelton def. No. 1 Alexander Zverev in 5 sets