Serena Williams’ former coach suggests the main reason why Ben Shelton lost the US Open final to Alexander Zverev

But Shelton once again fell short, with Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou offering his explanation why Zverev was able to come out on top.

Discuss: Alexander Zverev will finish his career with _ Grand Slam titles?

He’s just won his second at the US Open!

Ben Shelton told he hesitated too much in US Open final v Alexander Zverev

Analysing the US Open battle between the two ATP superstars, Mouratoglou said in a video on his Instagram: “In the final of this US Open on the tactical side, Zverev played better. He really came out with a clear plan that he executed.

“It was clear that he was not giving angles to Shelton. He played extremely high topspin on Shelton’s backhand, preventing him from getting rhythm. Because he knew that Shelton was better when the ball was coming fast, he played extremely high, and Shelton didn’t have the shot to hurt his opponent.

“The fact that Zverev was able to play deep was putting Shelton always in a position in which he was hesitating. And I think that if I have to summarize this defeat in a few words, I would say too much hesitation on Shelton’s hand. I think that the quarterfinal against [Carlos] Alcaraz and the semifinal against [Frances] Tiafoe that Ben Shelton played got him tired in the final.”

Shelton certainly wasn’t his very best self at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but the American was under immense pressure to lift the trophy. Moreover, he was playing against the top seed and a man very much in form, with Zverev now boasting two of the four Grand Slam titles this season.

READ MORE: How much money Alexander Zverev has now made and where he ranks in the all-time list after his US Open win

US Open champion Alexander Zverev compared to Stan Wawrinka

Mouratoglou, who worked with WTA legend Williams for over 10 years, has also spent time praising the new US Open champion.

He said on his Instagram: “Zverev won his first Grand Slam at 29. Some people will argue that Zverev didn’t have to beat either Alcaraz or [Jannik] Sinner to win his two Grand Slams, which is true.

“But when there is an opportunity, the people who believe, the people who keep working and keep believing, they take the opportunity. He is the one even saying, ‘I don’t think I’m like God-given talent, like some other guys are’, and he gave credit to his work ethics.

“During nine years, he hit the wall, I don’t know how many times, but he never stopped believing that he will make it. At 29, he won his first Grand Slam. Then he played a final, and then he won a second one. And that’s huge.

“This guy’s work ethics is unbelievable, and I have a story about it. When I was at the US Open two years ago, when we arrived, Zverev was on the next court and he was completely wet. He was playing for an hour I guess.

“We played for two hours, and when we left, he was still on the court and he was still practicing. So this guy was working four hours. That’s really intense. It reminds me of Stan Wawrinka. Stan was in the same situation.

“He was in the generation of the [Novak] Djokovic, [Rafael] Nadal and [Roger] Federer. For so many years, he couldn’t make it. He couldn’t win a Grand Slam. And at 29, he won his first, then his second, then his third. So that’s a little bit the same kind of situation.”

Wawrinka, who will retire from tennis later this year, did indeed show superb perseverance to secure his three Grand Slam titles.

It’s one more than Zverev has right now, but it would be foolish to rule the 29-year-old out of at least another major success.

Also like Swiss legend Wawrinka, the German has never made it to number one in the ATP rankings, but he may just overtake Sinner in top spot before the season finishes.

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