Bizarre moment Alexander Zverev doesn’t even know he’s WON US Open as he offers explanation for viral error

ALEXANDER ZVEREV bizarrely didn’t realise he’d won the US Open after converting match point. The German, 29, beat home hopeful Ben Shelton 6-4 7-6 5-7 6-2 to earn his second Major title. Alexander Zverev turned around without celebrating Credit: X @usopen The German, 29, stared up in confusion Credit: X @usopen Zverev triumphed after three hours and 36 minutes as Shelton sent a forehand return long. Rather than celebrate, the No1 seed turned around with a straight face and patted a ball over to his opponent’s side of the net, as if Shelton was about to serve. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! After noticing the crowd’s reaction, Zverev turned to the screen and realised that he had won the match. The 6ft 6in star then raised his arms in celebration as his achievement finally dawned on him. Zverev finally realised that he’s US Open champion Credit: X @usopen The two-time Major champion beamed as he realised the match was over Credit: X @usopen Beaming Zverev jogged over to the net and hugged a crestfallen-looking Shelton. Later explaining what happened, Zverev admitted: “I thought it was 5-1. I knew that I broke him twice. “I thought: ‘Okay, I’m going to have a relaxed service game here, and then I’ll get tight in the next one.’ “Luckily for me, it wasn’t the case. Most read in Tennis BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Zverev embraces Ben Shelton at the net Credit: Shutterstock Editorial “It’s funny, teachers in tennis always tell you, play each point, forget about the score – at that moment, I forgot about the score, and it helped me. “I thought the score was 5-1, honestly. Which helped me, because if I’d known, I probably would’ve committed three double faults instead of one.” Zverev, who finally broke his Major title duck at this year’s French Open, claimed that this time he was able to have “fun” on the big stage. The world No2 said: “Lots of pressure has come off. I think I will be able to enjoy this one a lot more than Paris. “Because in Paris, I was full of stress. The entire two weeks, I was a massive ball of stress. And it was a massive relief when I finally did it. “The difference then was I went to Wimbledon and I played freer, with a lot more joy, I feel like the same thing happened here. I was freer. “It was fun to be out there in those moments. Whereas in Paris it wasn’t fun. “It was a lot of stress. Yeah, once you win one, there’s definitely something coming off.” Zverev and Shelton pose with their respective trophies Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The German triumphed in New York for a first time Credit: Getty Zverev was previously accused of domestic abuse by ex-girlfriends Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea, allegations that he has repeatedly denied. The Sharypova case was dropped, but Zverev paid more than £170,000 to shorten proceedings in the Patea trial – with no admission of guilt. Under German law, the discontinuation is not a conviction. Zverev, who remains behind Jannik Sinner in the ATP rankings, believes that he is currently the best player in the world – but that the Italian still trumps him when fully fit. The new US Open champion said: “You have to take everything into consideration. “With Jannik Sinner being injured and Carlos Alcaraz coming back from injury after four months, right now, probably yes. Both of them healthy and both of them at the top of their game, maybe not. “But if we say right, right now with Jannik being injured and Carlos coming back from injury, maybe. I mean, four, five months ago when both of them were healthy, I wasn’t. “I was losing to Jannik all the time. So if everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead. It’s as simple as that.” Comment now