The US Open men's singles final at Flushing Meadows tonight will crown a new champion as Alexander Zverev takes on Ben Shelton.
Top seed Zverev is aiming to add another Grand Slam title to his 2026 season, having won his first at the French Open in June. Ranked number two in the world, the German also finished runner-up at Wimbledon behind Jannik Sinner and reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
Shelton's breakthrough season
Shelton has enjoyed a breakthrough year, winning four ATP titles including the Canadian Open before reaching his first major final in Queens. His path to the final included a victory over Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling quarter-final, and he has also beaten Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas this year.
The 23-year-old from Florida is chasing his first Grand Slam title and the $5.5 million (£4 million) prize money for the winner. The runner-up will receive $2.8 million (£2 million), guaranteeing Shelton the largest individual sum of his career. He has already banked $15 million (£11.1 million) in career prize money.
Net worth and sponsorships
With sponsorship deals with On, Rolex and Ralph Lauren Fragrances, the Atlanta-born star's total net worth is estimated at up to $8 million (£5.9 million). Despite his commercial appeal, Shelton has said he is not chasing money or sponsorships.
“For me, one, it’s all about timing. And then two, it’s doing the right thing with the right people,” he told Boardroom. “I’m not somebody who really chases money or chases a number of deals. I just want to be with a few select partners that I believe in the company, they believe in me, and it’s a real authentic partnership.”
“For me, the tennis piece always comes first,” he added. “I think everything that I want from a business perspective will come with that. Being able to be patient and bet on yourself and take your time with the business side of things is the most important.”
Girlfriend Trinity Rodman
Shelton will be cheered on by his girlfriend, United States footballer Trinity Rodman. The 24-year-old is the daughter of basketball legend Dennis Rodman but has built her own sporting career, becoming the youngest player drafted in National Women's Soccer League history at 18.
After making her senior debut for Washington Spirit in 2021, the forward has played nearly 100 matches for the club, scoring 28 goals. She won her first US cap in 2022 and has since played 57 times, scoring 13 goals, including three at the 2024 Olympics in Paris where her team won gold.
Shelton and Rodman confirmed their relationship in March last year. She is regularly seen courtside at his tournaments, while he has attended Spirit matches. The couple have spoken about navigating life as two professional athletes, sharing an understanding of the demands of sport.
“I think it’s understanding each other and just the mental aspect of it,” Rodman told 7News DC. “It's extremely mentally and obviously physically [demanding], but the mental, I think, is harder to control. You can power through little nicks and injuries, but if your mind's not right, it's harder to push through that.
“We're really good at understanding and working with each other through that. So I would say that was the biggest help being with him and how we move forward.”
