Alexander Zverev is finally a US Open champion. He beat Ben Shelton in four sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, claiming his first title in New York and his second Grand Slam of the year. The stadium was mostly pro-Shelton, and Zverev handled it like a pro, thanking the crowd for the energy and telling the young American his time is coming.
Then came the moment everyone’s talking about. Zverev spotted Shelton’s girlfriend, soccer star Trinity Rodman, and asked if she didn’t have a game that day, calling her the lucky charm. It was playful, it was confident, and it was the clip that blew up online before the trophy even left his hands. He also gave a shoutout to his mom, calling her the strongest person he knows.
After the ceremony, Zverev took the celebration to Tao Downtown for a private dinner, then headed to Tao Nightclub, where a bottle parade and plenty of dancing kept the night going. The final itself pulled a serious crowd, with Brad Pitt, Jeff Bezos, and Anna Wintour in the stands. Reports about past abuse allegations against Zverev, which he denies, also resurfaced in the coverage.
What do you think: was the Trinity Rodman joke the best trophy speech moment of the year, or did he take it too far?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.