For the second time in three years, an American man made the final of his home Grand Slam. And for the second time, he got steamrolled.

Ben Shelton had spent this whole U.S. Open successfully problem-solving to reach his first major final. But Alexander Zverev was a problem Shelton couldn’t solve.

The top-seeded Zverev blitzed Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. For the German veteran, it was as much an exorcism of his Flushing Meadows demons as it was a celebration.

Zverev had imploded in the 2020 U.S. Open final, up two sets to love before collapsing against Dominic Thiem. Two years ago, he was a pretournament favorite but lost to American Taylor Fritz. But Sunday’s final turned Arthur Ashe Stadium from his own personal house of horrors into a dreamland.

Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates after defeating Ben Shelton of the USA to become the 2026 US Open champion in four sets on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. Jason Szenes for New York Post

“It feels amazing, especially with the heartbreak I had in 2020 here. To finally lift this trophy is an amazing feeling,” said Zverev.

“God has seen how hard we worked, how much we suffered, how much pain we went through. I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before.”

Alexander Zverev of Germany poses for a photo holding his trophy next to Jimmy Connors at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, September 13, 2026. Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in four sets to become the 2026 US Open champion. Jason Szenes for New York Post

Shelton fell to 0-6 all time against the German, with a defeat that will push the American men’s drought to 24 years without a major title by the time they play the 2027 Australian Open in January.

Two years ago, Fritz lost the U.S. Open final in straight sets. Sunday was almost as lopsided, a dominant win by Zverev, who has two Slams this year and has joined Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in forming a new Big Three.

And with Sinner injured and Alcaraz just coming off a 4 ½-month layoff, does that make Zverev the best in the world?

“I don’t know how to answer that,” Zverev said after a pregnant pause longer than one of his delays between serves. “With Jannik Sinner being injured and Carlos Alcaraz coming back from injury after 4 ¹/₂ months, right now this moment, probably yes. Both of them healthy and at the top of their game, maybe not.”

But Sunday, he was. Zverev’s movement shot by shot was stellar.

Ben Shelton of the US hits a return to Alexander Zverev off Germany during the Men’s Final match in Arthur Ashe Stadium. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST

He managed not just the clock — bouncing the ball as many as 17 times between serves to get Shelton out of a ready position — but also his own blood sugar.

Ben Shelton of the US reacts late in the fourth set against Alexander Zverev of Germany during the Men’s Final match in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the 2026 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, on Sunday, September 13, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST

For a Type 1 diabetic who had to inject himself during changeovers not once but twice, it was all the more impressive.

Shelton had spent the past two weeks solving problems, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alcaraz, then Frances Tiafoe.

But Zverev proved a whole different challenge. Or more accurately, his serve did.

Shelton broke Alcaraz four times in a row, but hadn’t broken Zverev in a staggering 66 straight service games until finally getting one on the final game of the third set. He won 7-5 to get a standing ovation and force a fourth set.

But Shelton promptly was broken right out of the gate, then fell behind 2-0.

Alexander Zverev of Germany is greeted by Ben Shelton of the USA on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Zverev defeated Shelton in four sets to become the 2026 US Open champion. Jason Szenes for New York Post

By the time Zverev finally got a time warning from chair umpire Marijana Veljovic, he was already in control.

“I’ll let him do his thing when he’s up there, but I’m not going to sit there, be locked in, focused in a ready position for that long,” said Shelton.

“[The ump] was telling me I need to get to the line earlier, and I was like, ‘He can start his routine whenever he wants. I promise there will never be a time where he serves and I’m not ready.’ But I shouldn’t have to sit at the line. If he’s bouncing the ball 20, 25 times, I shouldn’t have to just sit there for that … That’s a stupid rule that you’ve got to be sitting there if it’s a guy who has his routine.”

Ben Shelton of the US hits a return to Alexander Zverev off Germany during the Men’s Final match in Arthur Ashe Stadium. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST

Not even the late arrival of Shelton’s girlfriend Trinity Rodman — whose Washington Spirit had played a 1 p.m. home game — could change the outcome.

Zverev served out the match, hilariously clinching the match without initially realizing it, he was so dialed in.

“I just miscounted the score, I guess,” said Zverev. “Yeah, in that moment I was in the zone a lot. I didn’t hear noise at all. I was in this kind of tunnel where I just didn’t hear anything.”