BRICS 2027: China to Host Next Summit, Says PM Modi

India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi congratulated China on becoming the next host of BRICS for 2027 as the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi ended on Sunday. Addressing the open session of the BRICS summit, Prime Minister Modi opined that BRICS was about to begin its third decade of existence and that the world is now expecting “concrete results” from the grouping rather than mere ideas and promises. According to him, it was certain that the BRICS member nations will live up to these expectations.

Call for Concrete BRICS Outcomes by PM Modi

On the second day of the summit, PM Modi highlighted the fact that BRICS has moved into a new stage after two decades of collaboration.

According to him, the international community expects some tangible results from BRICS and not some declarations or promises only.

PM Modi also congratulated China on taking over the chairmanship of BRICS for hosting the upcoming summit. He thanked all the attending leaders along with their delegates for making the New Delhi Summit a success.

On the second day, the theme of discussion was “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth.”

India Emphasizes Cooperation of Global South

According to Modi, the trust of Global South nations in BRICS is growing, evidenced by the number of initiatives on such issues as disaster management, MSMEs and the environment.

He stressed that the cooperation of BRICS should go beyond the governments and involve entrepreneurs, farmers, scientists, women, youth and common people too in the work of the organization.

As per Modi, the strength of BRICS is due to its diversity and ability to cooperate despite diverse situations in its member states.

Jinping Pushes for Increased Global South’s Participation

The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, too, emphasized the need for a greater role by BRICS for representing the interests of the Global South.

Speaking during the second session of the summit, Jinping encouraged BRICS nations to “grasp the historical initiative” and play an active and positive role in international affairs.

This came against the backdrop of India making Global South interests, multilateralism, sustainability, and technology core themes of its BRICS summit.

China to Host 19th BRICS Summit in 2027

In 2027, China will take over the rotating BRICS presidency and will host the 19th BRICS summit.

The handover of the presidency was in line with India taking up the chair of the 18th summit, which was successfully held in New Delhi. Jinping was set to leave India following the two-day BRICS summit held in Bharat Mandapam.

In the course of his visit, Modi and Jinping held bilateral talks, thereby giving another diplomatic dimension to the summit talks.

Which Is the Only Floating Village in India?

India has a variety of exotic natural landscapes, but one of them is quite unique, which is located in Manipur. The Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India that is famous for having floating masses of vegetation called phumdis. One of such formations is the Champu Khangpok that is known to be India’s only floating village.

Which Is the Floating Village of India?

The only floating village in India is Champu Khangpok. This village is situated on the Loktak Lake in Bishnupur district of Manipur.

There are bamboo huts built on floating phumdis in the village. Around 400 people reside in around 134 bamboo huts, where fishing is a major occupation of the people there.

Where Is the Loktak Lake?

Loktak Lake is situated in Bishnupur district of Manipur, around 40 kilometers away from Imphal. This lake is significant for the economy of the state.

It is quite famous due to its unique floating landscape and, thus, forms one of the most important natural places in Northeast India.

What Is a Phumdi?

Phumdis are vegetation, soil, and organic mass floating formations that naturally form in Loktak Lake, varying in terms of thickness.

These formations can move depending on changes in water movements. In some cases, they have been known to be large enough to hold vegetation, humans, and structures.

Do People Live on Loktak Lake?

Yes. People around Loktak Lake derive their livelihood from the lake. Fishing forms one of the main traditional economic activities in the area.

People in some areas build houses and other structures on the floating phumdis. The most outstanding one is Champu Khangpok since its village is built on floating formations.

What is Sendra Island?

Sendra is an island that tourists visit near Loktak Lake which offers beautiful views of Loktak Lake and its floating phumdis.

Tourists get to see the peculiarities of the floating landscape from several points of view on the island of Sendra; thus, Sendra becomes one of the known places to visit Loktak Lake.

Why Is Loktak Lake Famous?

Firstly, it is famous because of its floating phumdis, rich environment and peculiar connection with the local people. Also, it is well-known as a Ramsar Site; therefore, it is regarded as a wetland of international importance.

Another point of interest related to the lake is Keibul Lamjao National Park situated on the southern part of the lake. It is known as the world’s only floating national park where you can see Sangai deer.

Women’s Asia Cup Winners List (2004-2026): Complete Champions List

The Women’s Asia Cup is the main regional cricket event featuring teams from across Asia, which is managed by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The tournament was first conducted in 2004, but in the ODI format; however, it later changed to T20I in 2012. Since its inception, India has been the strongest team in the competition, having won the Women’s Asia Cup of 2026 and thus securing their eighth title. In the most recent finals match, played on 13th September 2026, India won against Sri Lanka by 72 runs.

Winner of Women’s Asia Cup 2026

India Women bagged the Women’s Asia Cup title in 2026 after beating Sri Lanka Women by 72 runs in the final on September 13, 2026.

This was India’s eighth Women’s Asia Cup title win. Sri Lanka were the defending champions after lifting the cup in 2024, but lost to India in 2026.

In the 2026 tournament, which took place in UAE, the game format was T20I.

Women’s Asia Cup Winners List 2004 to 2026

The Women’s Asia Cup has been a cornerstone of women’s cricket in Asia since its inception in 2004. This tournament has showcased the evolving landscape of women’s cricket in the region, with India dominating for much of its history, but also featuring breakthrough performances from other nations.

Asia Cup Winners List from 2004 to 2026
YEAR	FORMAT	WINNER	WON BY	RUNNER UP	VENUE
2026	T20I	India	77 Runs	Sri Lanka	Dubai
2024	T20I	Sri Lanka	8 wickets	India	Dambulla
2022	T20I	India	8 Wickets	Sri Lanka	Sylhet
2018	T20I	Bangladesh	3 Wickets	India	Kuala Lumpur
2016	T20I	India	17 Runs	Pakistan	Bangkok
2012	T20I	India	18 Runs	Pakistan	Guangzhou
2008	ODI	India	177 Runs	Sri Lanka	Kurunegala
2006	ODI	India	8 Wickets	Sri Lanka	Jaipur
2005-06	ODI	India	97 Runs	Sri Lanka	Karachi
2004	ODI	India	Tournament 5–0	Sri Lanka	Colombo

Asia Cup Winners List Country-wise

India has undoubtedly been the most successful team in the tournament history having won a total of eight Women’s Asia Cup crowns. India has won the trophy in the years 2004, 2005-06, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2022 and 2026.

Sri Lanka has clinched its maiden Women’s Asia Cup crown in the year 2024 whereas Bangladesh lifted the trophy in the year 2018.

Here is the country-wise list of Asia Cup winners:

Team	Winner	Runner-up	Winning Year
India	8	2	2004, 2005-06, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2022, 2026
Sri Lanka	1	1	2024
Bangladesh	1	1	2018
Pakistan	Not yet	Not yet	Not yet
Afghanistan	Not yet	Not yet	Not yet
Hong Kong	Not yet	Not yet	Not yet

The other unique thing about the India women team is that India has reached the finals in each of the ten times the tournament has been held.

Women’s Asia Cup Format Evolution

The event made its debut in 2004 as an ODI event. Its initial four tournaments that were held in 2004, 2005-06, 2006, and 2008, were conducted under the ODI format.

Starting from 2012, the event switched to the T20I format, which has been maintained ever since.

This evolution is a result of the increasing prominence of women’s T20 cricket at the international level.

India Clinches Junior Asia Cup 2026 Men’s and Women’s Titles

The India team has achieved the remarkable feat of the golden double at the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026 held in Moqi, China, by winning the titles in both the men’s and women’s hockey. The Indian women’s hockey team won the title by beating the host country China 1-0 to claim an unprecedented hat-trick of victories, whereas the men’s hockey team claimed their sixth continental title by thrashing South Korea 4-1.

Indian Women Seal Third Consecutive Junior Asia Cup Crown

The Indian women’s team clinched their third successive Junior Asia Cup title with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over China.

Sanika Chandrakant Mane netted the winning goal in the 17th minute, flicking an aerial pass from a teammate inside the circle past the Chinese goalkeeper Xu Mengjiao.

China managed to score what seemed like an equalizer through their sole penalty corner, but the goal was ruled out as the ball had gone in above the permissible height. The Indian team defended their slender lead well in the remaining half.

The team, captained by midfielder Khaidem Shileima Chanu, maintained their unbeaten record under their newly-appointed coach Tim White. Sanika was the joint-top scorer of the tournament with seven goals.

The Indian team’s impressive performance saw them beat Pakistan by 19-0 in the quarterfinal and South Korea 5-1 in the semifinals.

Indian Men Grab Sixth Title

The Indian men had an easier time in the final as they beat South Korea 4-1 after getting ahead with a three-goal lead at half-time.

Ajeet Yadav opened the scoring in the ninth minute, followed four minutes later by Anmol Ekka who scored via a penalty corner. Meanwhile, Prabhdeep Singh scored in the 21st minute, while Ashu Maurya got another goal in the 50th minute.

The captain for South Korea, Lee Minhyeok, managed to score through a penalty stroke, but the Indian men easily maintained their lead.

It is the sixth Junior Asia Cup win for India, having won it in 2004, 2008, 2015, 2023, and 2024.

Anmol Ekka Ends Up as the Highest Goalscorer

Anmol Ekka was the best attacker in India’s title-winning effort, having scored 17 goals and setting a record for the most goals scored in the tournament.

India started off with a 14-0 win against Indonesia, then drew 3-3 with Japan before winning against South Korea and Chinese Taipei, and ended up beating Malaysia in the semi-finals 3-1.

Goalkeeper Vivek Lakra was an equally important player who saved a penalty stroke during the semi-final match.

Hindi Diwas 2026: History, Significance and Key Facts

The Hindi Diwas 2026 is celebrated on 14 September 2026 to mark an important day in the constitutional history of India. On 14 September 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi in the Devanagari script as the Official Language of the Union. The day not only marks the significance of Hindi as a constitutional, literary and cultural language but also marks the linguistic diversity of India.

Why Does India Celebrate Hindi Diwas on September 14?

India celebrates Hindi Diwas on September 14 because the Constituent Assembly chose Hindi in the Devanagari Script as the Official Language of the Union on September 14, 1949.

Upon coming into effect from January 26, 1950, Article 343 of the Constitution set out the Official Language of the Union. The Article 343 says that the Official Language of the Union shall be Hindi in the Devanagari Script.

Since 1953, India has been celebrating Hindi Diwas every year on September 14 to remember the decision taken in 1949 and promote Hindi.

History of Hindi Diwas and Constitutional Importance

The history of Hindi Diwas is related to the formation of the Constitution of India and the policies regarding the official language.

September 14, 1949: Hindi was adopted as the Official Language of the Union by the Constituent Assembly.
January 26, 1950: The Constitution came into force, and Article 343 deals with the Official Language of the Union.
September 14, 1953: Hindi Diwas was first observed.
Article 343: Lays down the constitution regarding the Official Language of the Union.
Article 351: Mandates that the Union should promote and develop Hindi and ensure the use of Hindi as the medium of expression of India’s composite culture.

Hindi Diwas is celebrated through speeches, essay-writing, poem recitation, debate, quiz and cultural programs.

Significance of Hindi Diwas 2026

Hindi Diwas is not just about celebrating a language but about understanding the role of Hindi in the constitutional and cultural framework of India.

The Day,

Marks the decision of the Constituent Assembly in 1949.
Makes people aware of the Official Language of the Union.
Promotes Hindi language, its study, use, and development.
Promotes Hindi literature through poetry, fiction and essays.
Enhances the communication skills of the students.
Emphasizes the link between language, literature and culture.
Makes students aware of India’s multilingual identity.

For the students, the day is especially useful to make the difference between Official Language and National Language.

Is Hindi the National Language of India?

Not at all. Hindi is not the National Language of India.

There is no National Language declared by the Constitution of India. Hindi in the Devanagari script is declared as the Official Language of the Union under Article 343.

English also remains the Official Language under the Official Languages Act of 1963.

Hindi Diwas vs World Hindi Day

Hindi Diwas and World Hindi Day are separate occasions with different historical backgrounds and purposes.

Basis	Hindi Diwas	World Hindi Day
Date	September 14	January 10
Main purpose	Commemorates the 1949 Constituent Assembly decision	Promotes Hindi globally
Historical link	September 14, 1949	First World Hindi Conference, Nagpur, 1975
First observed	1953	2006
Primary focus	Use and development of Hindi in India	International promotion of Hindi
Activities	Speeches, essays, debates, poetry and quizzes	Conferences, seminars and international literary programmes
Constitutional provision	Article 343	No specific constitutional provision

India to Host World Circular Economy Forum 2026 in Gandhinagar

The WCEF 2026 will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India from September 15 to 18, which would be the first such forum to be held in South Asia. WCEF 2026 will be organized under the theme “Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity” and will gather over 2,000 delegates from over 65 countries to engage in discussions related to real solutions, investments and policy matters concerning the circular economy.

WCEF 2026: Theme and Objectives

The forum will explore ways of making economies less wasteful through reuse, refurbishment, recycling and reintroduction of materials and products back into the economic value chain.

WCEF 2026 is to promote India’s circular-economy efforts while enhancing international cooperation. Discussion topics will include financing and investing in a circular economy, policy dialogue and partnerships, and innovations, digitalization and technologies.

Furthermore, there will be increased collaboration with the Global South countries.

More Than 2,000 Attendees and 125+ Exhibitors

Over 2,000 cross-sector stakeholders from 65+ nations are projected to attend. The event will involve business leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, policy makers, academicians, innovators, as well as other sustainability-oriented organizations.

An international exhibition will involve 125+ national and international exhibitors, presenting practical circular economy applications, innovations and technologies that can be invested in.

The schedule of events for September 15-16 includes four plenary sessions and 16 parallel sessions on topics including artificial intelligence, employment, energy production, finance, governance, sustainable products, industrial applications, start-ups and youth leadership.

Partnerships for Circularity in the World

WCEF 2026 is a joint initiative between CPCB, Sitra – the Finnish Innovation Fund, Government of Finland, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of Gujarat and Gujarat Pollution Control Board.

Along with the WCEF 2026, a face-to-face meeting of the Board of the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10 YFP) will be organized in Gandhinagar on 15 September.

India has recently been taking up the responsibility of the Co-Chair of the 10 YFP Board.

Accelerator Sessions in the Order of 80 Around the World

The event will keep going after the main forum is over. From September 17 to 18, international partners will organize some 80 accelerator sessions, both offline and online, in Gandhinagar and other cities around the world.

The closing ceremony will also feature the official handing-over of the reins to the next host country.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Date, Muhurat, History and Celebrations

The Ganesh Chaturthi in 2026 set to start on Monday, September 14. It is a 10-day festival, where Lord Ganesha is brought into homes and public pandals in India. Also referred to as Vinayaka Chaturthi, this festival commemorates the birth of Lord Ganesha who is worshipped as the Vighnaharta or the god who removes obstacles from people’s paths. The Ganesh Chaturthi festival, which now constitutes prayers, the modak sweet, processions and other celebrations, has become one of the biggest festivals in India.

When Is Ganesh Chaturthi 2026?

In 2026, Ganesh Chaturthi will be observed on September 14. From the information provided in the Hindu calendar by Drik Panchang, the period of Chaturthi Tithi will begin at 7:06 AM on September 14 and end at 7:44 AM on September 15.

The lucky time for Ganesh Sthapana or the installation of Ganesh idol is from 11:02 AM to 1:31 PM.

The celebration will come to an end with the arrival of Anant Chaturdashi on September 25

Background Mythological Story of Ganesh Chaturthi

As per the popular legend of Hinduism, Goddess Parvati created Lord Ganesha from turmeric and sandalwood paste and made him the guardian of her chambers.

When Lord Shiva came and Lord Ganesha did not allow him to enter, it led to a conflict where Lord Shiva cut his head. In order to pacify Parvati, Lord Shiva resurrected him by joining an elephant’s head to Ganesha and gave him the position of Pratham Pujya.

Ganesh Chaturthi marks his birth and falls on Chaturthi Tithi of Shukla Paksha in Bhadrapada.

History of the Festival

Ganesh Chaturthi in its public form finds its origins from the Peshwa era; however, in time it evolved into a family ritual.

Freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak turned it into a big public celebration during the period of freedom movement. Since 1893, Bal Gangadhar Tilak started spreading the sarvajanik Ganesh festival by publishing articles in his journal Kesari, thus bringing together people in a common social place.

The first idol of Ganesh in a public ceremony is connected with Bhausaheb Rangari of Pune.

Celebration of the Festival

This festival is widely celebrated in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Devotees install an idol of Ganapati made of clay or Plaster of Paris both at home and in pandals, and they conduct aarti, offer modaks, durva and hibiscus flowers.

In Maharashtra, the celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi could last for the whole period of 10 days. In Mumbai the most famous public Ganesh Chaturthi celebration is called Lalbaugcha Raja.

People could also decide to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi for one and a half, three, five and seven days.

Ganesh Visarjan 2026 Date

On September 25th, 2026, Ganesh Visarjan will be held on the day of Anant Chaturdashi, wherein the idol is taken in vibrant processions with drums, dance and chanting of “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya.”

The immersion of the idol takes place in the rivers, lakes or seas and is an indication of Ganesha coming back to Mount Kailash. The entire event also serves as a message of renewal, as devotees eagerly await for Bappa next year.

India Win Record-Extending Eighth Women’s Asia Cup Title

India delivered a complete game performance to beat Sri Lanka and clinch their record-breaking eighth women’s Asia Cup title. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana laid the platform with their destructive half centuries, but India’s spinners took apart the challenge set by Sri Lanka. India managed to score 183/5 and defend that total to claim another unbeaten title. The victory also came as a sweet revenge for the Indians after suffering defeat against Sri Lanka in the finals of 2024.

Shafali, Mandhana Lay Foundation For Indian High Score

After deciding to bat, India got off to a flying start with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana going on to score 57 runs without losing a wicket in the Powerplay.

Shafali was especially hard-hitting, scoring a fifty off only 24 deliveries to become the fastest fifty-scorer in Women’s T20 Asia Cup history. It was her 21st T20 International half-century, third in the tournament and second in successive innings.

Mandhana too kept up the offensive and brought up her fifty off 35 balls. She and Shafali put on their sixth century partnership ever.

Sri Lanka finally broke their stand in the 13th over with 17-year-old Chamudi Praboda dismissing Shafali for 68. Mandhana was later run out for 59 off 39 balls.

India lost three wickets for just seven runs towards the end of their innings, but a late six by G Kamalini helped them post 183/5.

India’s Spinners Tear Apart Sri Lanka’s Pursuit

In the 2nd Innings, Sri Lanka began on a high note, India’s bowling unit quickly dominated the game.

Sharma made the vital breakthrough by sending off the skipper Chamari Athapaththu via stumping before dismissing Vishmi Gunarathne two deliveries later. At half-way mark, Sri Lanka were 63/3 putting India in the driver’s seat.

After that, Sree Charani got rid of the promising stand between Harshita Samarawickrama and Nilakshika Silva through a return catch.

The impressive spin attack of India did not allow Sri Lanka to gain the necessary impetus to chase down 184.

Unbeaten India Claim Women’s Asia Cup Title

This win helps India secure their eighth Women’s Asia Cup championship and also makes the team unbeaten throughout the competition. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur was full of praise for Shafali, saying that the latter played a responsible role with the bat and the ball.

Overall, Shafali managed to score 236 runs in five innings, scoring three half-centuries.

The win can also be seen as revenge against Sri Lanka who won the title in 2024 in the Dambulla finals.

US Open 2026 Winners: Complete Champions List and Results

US Open 2026 generated yet another generation of Grand Slam champions in both singles, doubles, and mixed doubles categories. In men’s singles, Alexander Zverev of Germany emerged victorious after winning against American Ben Shelton in four sets. Elena Rybakina won the women’s singles tournament by beating defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in her match. There were also other landmark moments recorded in doubles competitions, such as Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova recording their Career Grand Slam. Below is the full list of winners in US Open 2026.

US Open 2026 Category Wise Winners List

Category	Winner’s Name	Runners-Up
Men’s Singles	Alexander Zverev (Germany)	Ben Shelton (USA)
Women’s Singles	Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)	Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)
Men’s Doubles	Neal Skupski (Great Britain) and Christian Harrison (USA)	Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz
Women’s Doubles	Taylor Townsend (USA) and Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic)	Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery
Mixed Doubles	Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik (Czech Republic)	Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobol

Men’s Singles

Winner: Alexander Zverev (Germany)

Alexander Zverev clinched the 2026 US Open men’s singles crown after beating American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in four sets.

The win marks Zverev’s second Grand Slam singles title in the calendar year 2026 after he won the French Open. Zverev became the fourth male player in the Open Era to win two Grand Slams in one year, joining Jimmy Connors, Guillermo Vilas and Jannik Sinner in achieving this feat.

Runner-up: Ben Shelton (USA)

Women’s Singles

Winner: Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)

Elena Rybakina edged past the top-seeded and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to claim her maiden US Open title.

Rybakina also managed to snatch the world No. 1 spot from Sabalenka thanks to her triumph at the US Open. She has now accumulated three major hard-court tournament titles—Australian Open, US Open and WTA Finals.

Runner-up: Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)

Men’s Doubles

Winners: Neal Skupski (Great Britain) and Christian Harrison (USA)

Neal Skupski and Christian Harrison were the fifth seeds that won against the sixth seeds Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz in the final with the scores of 6-4, 7-6(6).

The pair won their second Grand Slam together having been champions at the Australian Open earlier that year. In the tournament, they did not lose any set.

Runners-up: Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz

For Skupski, this win was especially important, considering that he had lost the last year’s US Open finals even having three championship points at hand.

Women’s Doubles

Winners: Taylor Townsend (USA) and Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic)

Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova won the women’s doubles with the score of 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 against American wild cards Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery.

The victory made a career Grand Slam for the pair, which have already won Wimbledon in 2024, the Australian Open in 2025 and the French Open in 2026.

For Townsend, it was the fourth Grand Slam win while Siniakova got her 12th one.

Runners-up: Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery

Mixed Doubles

Champions: Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik (Czech Republic)

Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik, an all-Czech combination, won the mixed doubles match against Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, the score being 6-3, 1-6, 10-6.

This was the first time that both the Muchova and Mensik duo had won a Grand Slam title in any category. They received $1 million in prize money.

Finalists: Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobol

Alexander Zverev Wins First US Open Title, Beats Shelton

Alexander Zverev has claimed the 2026 US Open men’s singles championship, where he beat Ben Shelton of America with the scoreline 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The favorite managed to keep calm throughout this tough four-set match and won another Grand Slam this season. Shelton managed to raise hope with his win in the third set, but Alexander Zverev quickly returned to the game and won the match.

Zverev Controls US Open Final

Zverev had an upper hand from the get-go and immediately highlighted Shelton’s weaknesses on serve. The American made costly double faults when it mattered most, even on break point in the very first game and on set point.

Zverev himself played a steady game from the baseline and had no trouble serving throughout the match. Zverev managed to get 69% of his first serves into play and won 85% of points from his serves.

He had an advantage in many rallies from the baseline too, neutralising Shelton’s strong left-hand forehand with his two-handed backhand.

Shelton Strikes Back in Third Set

The second set was taken to a tie-breaker, yet Zverev was better able to withstand the pressure. The German player took his early mini-breaks to get ahead by 5-0 and won the set 7-6 (2).

Shelton did not give up. Zverev served for the championship from 6-5 in the third set and the American got the aggressive rhythm and broke his serve. Shelton went on to win the set 7-5 and forced the fourth set.

Unfortunately for Shelton, he could not hold on to this energy.

At the start of the fourth set, Zverev broke Shelton’s serve. The German player stayed consistent after that and claimed the championship 6-2.

Zverev Wraps Up an Impressive Grand Slam Year

With the US Open triumph, Zverev has earned his second Grand Slam crown in 2026. The German player is now one of only four men, along with Jimmy Connors, Guillermo Vilas and Jannik Sinner, to have won both of his Grand Slam crowns in the same year during the Open Era.

In addition, Zverev has improved his record against Shelton, increasing it to a 6-0 score.

Shelton’s Career-Best Grand Slam Year

Though he was beaten in the final, the 23-year-old American has had his best Grand Slam performance of his career in New York.

The player has qualified for his first Grand Slam final, claimed his second Masters 1000 crown in Canada, and risen to a career-best No. 4 world ranking.

Moreover, it was another opportunity for American men to bring an end to the prolonged US Open title drought. Andy Roddick is still the last American men’s champion, winning the title back in 2003.