Episode Details

The 2026 US Open is done. Alexander Zverev and Elena Rybakina are the champions — and I'm joined by Christian from CHRISTIAN'S COURT for a full tournament review covering everything that happened over an extraordinary fortnight in New York.

THE CHAMPIONS

Alexander Zverev beat Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 for his SECOND Grand Slam title, six years after leading Dominic Thiem by two sets in the 2020 final here and losing. It caps his best season: a maiden major at Roland-Garros, the Wimbledon final, and at least the semifinals at all four Slams in 2026.

Elena Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 for her THIRD major and first US Open, denying the two-time defending champion a three-peat that would have made her the first woman to do it since Serena Williams in 2012-14. Rybakina has now beaten Sabalenka in BOTH 2026 Grand Slam finals, and takes over as World No. 1.

ALCARAZ

The defending champion returned from a four-month layoff after a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open and looked to be building beautifully — until Ben Shelton dethroned him 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(10-7) in a quarterfinal that finished at 3:33 A.M., the latest finish in US Open history, ending an 18-match Grand Slam winning streak.

SABALENKA

Two-time defending champion, World No. 1 coming in, sixth straight US Open semifinal — and it ends with the three-peat denied and the top ranking gone. Where does she go from here?

We also cover Zheng Qinwen's run from qualifying to the quarterfinals, Novak Djokovic's first-round exit, Shelton and Tiafoe's all-American semifinal, and what the rest of the season looks like.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro ft. Christian's Court

1:00 Pre-Tournament Predictions vs Reality

1:30 Rybakina Wins US Open 2026 Despite Injury

6:00 Sabalenka Final Loss & No.1 Pressure

11:00 Creator Credentials & Press Access Behind the Scenes

13:40 Coco Gauff's Run & Improved Serve

18:50 Can Jessica Pegula Still Win a Slam?

23:25 Alex Eala vs Iva Jovic: Match of the Tournament?

27:20 Linda Noskova's Big Run

28:40 Zheng Qinwen: Qualifying to Quarterfinals Comeback

31:50 Zverev Wins US Open: Second Slam of 2026

35:45 Ben Shelton Final & Serve Tactics Debate

40:20 Shelton Beats Alcaraz in 3:33am Epic

43:30 Djokovic Shock Loss & His Future

50:40 Rafa & Novak Documentaries

51:20 Khachanov's Semifinal Run

53:20 Zverev Ball Bounce Controversy

55:30 Should Tennis Change Its Scoring Rules?

59:10 Blockx, Michelsen & Tiafoe

01:01:10 Christian's US Open Experience & Naomi Osaka Cookout

01:04:20 Outro

🎾 IN THIS VIDEO

- Full 2026 US Open review, men's and women's

- Honest assessments of Alcaraz, Sabalenka and Eala

- The stories that defined the fortnight

- What happens next for the rest of the season

💬 Who was your player of the tournament? Comments below.

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