Alexander Zverev v Ben Shelton for the US Open title in the New York sunshine.

Whoever brings their A game on serve today may well walk away as the champion.

The two finalists lead the way in terms of aces served in the men's draw in New York - Alexander Zverev has hit 87 and Ben Shelton 71.

Before the start of the US Open, only Taylor Fritz (687) had served more aces, external on the ATP Tour this year than Zverev (573), while the German was also second on the list for percentage of first serves in, external (71.45%).

Left-hander Shelton was seventh (472 aces) and eighth (67.35% first serves in) respectively for those metrics on the tour, and is one of the biggest servers in the sport.

Ben Shelton wins the toss and chooses to serve first.

Pre-match pictures done - a few minutes of warm-ups and then the US Open final will be under way.

American Ben Shelton is introduced first to the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

He enters wearing headphones but no matter how loud he's got them turned up, he'll be able to hear the roars from the home fans.

It's a bit more muted, as you might expect, for the arrival of top seeds Alexander Zverev.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I'm actually picking Shelton to win today. I just think there's something about the way he's playing his tennis, it's jaw-dropping.

Alexander Zverev has a 5-0 winning record in previous matches against Ben Shelton and has won 10 of the 11 sets they've played.

They've never met at a Grand Slam nor in a five-set match before.

BBC Radio 5 Live

The two finalists will be heading out onto the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium imminently.

Tap "Listen live" at the top of this page for live radio commentary of the US Open men's singles final.

Commentary will begin on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra before switching to BBC Radio 5 Live at about 19:30 BST.

Image source, Getty Images

That 2020 US Open final was played in an empty arena, with no spectators present because of the Covid pandemic.

Not sure which would be preferable for Alexander Zverev - having nobody in the stadium, or a crowd of 24,000-odd screaming for the other fella?

This is Alexander Zverev's second appearance in a US Open men's singles final.

Six years ago, he led Dominic Thiem by two sets to love but eventually lost to the Austrian in a fifth-set tie-break.

It was the first of a series of near misses at Grand Slams for the German, before he finally claimed his first major title at the French Open earlier this year.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

With Jannik Sinner out injured and Carlos Alcaraz making his return after four months out injured, Alexander Zverev entered the US Open as the number one seed and - for many - the player to beat.

His first two matches went five sets, but he has not lost a set since.

"After the second round, at about 3am I was sitting with my team in the locker room and we were laughing at how bad I was playing," Zverev said.

"That sense of humour helped me. I obviously have improved a bit otherwise I would not be in the US Open final."

Ben Shelton will appear in his first Grand Slam final shortly, having previously lost in semi-finals at the Australian Open and US Open.

The 23-year-old is a seven-time winner on the ATP Tour and will be up to a career-high fourth in the world rankings on Monday.

• 2004: Andy Roddick (Wimbledon)
• 2005: Andy Roddick (Wimbledon), Andre Agassi (US Open)
• 2006: Andy Roddick (US Open)
• 2009: Andy Roddick (Wimbledon)
• 2024: Taylor Fritz (US Open)
• 2026: Ben Shelton (US Open)

Andy Roddick won his only Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2003, beating Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets in the final.

He had only just turned 21 and he ended 2003 as the world number one - but that would be the high point of the big-serving American's career.

Roddick got to four more Grand Slam finals but lost to Roger Federer in all of them, and he retired after the 2012 US Open at the age of 30.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The vast majority of the people watching on Arthur Ashe Stadium will be backing Ben Shelton as he attempts to end a 23-year wait for an American male Grand Slam champion.

Shelton was about 11 months old when Andy Roddick won the 2003 US Open.

"I'm going to need you guys on Sunday to bring the energy," Shelton said to the crowd after his semi-final win against Frances Tiafoe.

"I'm going to leave it all on the court and I hope you guys come and back me. Let's do this for the USA."

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport tennis news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

For different reasons, Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton will look back on their 2026 Grand Slam performances with a sense of achievement - no matter what happens in Sunday's US Open men's final.

German top seed Zverev has emerged from the shadow of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz to win the Grand Slam title many felt he might never land.

American eighth seed Shelton, meanwhile, has demonstrated he does have what it takes to reach a major final - and beat the world's very best players on the way.

"For me, this whole tournament has been uncharted territory," said Shelton, who will be backed by a partisan 24,000-strong crowd in New York.

"I'm in positions I've never been in before. I've beaten guys I've never beaten before."

Shelton must also beat Zverev for the first time, having lost all five of their previous meetings, if he is to become the first American man in 23 years to win a Grand Slam singles title.

• Read Jonathan's preview of the men's final

Image source, Getty Images

Elena Rybakina claimed her second major title of 2026 by beating Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday's US Open women's singles final.

Kazakhstan's Rybakina, who will replace Sabalenka at the top of the world rankings on Monday, won 6-4 5-7 6-2.

Read more:

• From struggling to walk to US Open win - how Rybakina triumphed
• "Tough to control emotions" after another near miss for Sabalenka

Have your say on today's US Open final by tapping the Get Involved button - we'll use a selection of messages as part of our live text coverage.

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On the other side of the net will be Alexander Zverev, who waited so long to land a first Grand Slam title, but could end 2026 with two of them.

Will this year's French Open winner also become US Open champion?

Image source, Getty Images

It's been 23 years since Andy Roddick won the 2003 US Open.

No male American player has won a Grand Slam singles title since.

Will Ben Shelton end the drought in front of a home crowd in New York?

Image source, Getty Images

It's the 15th and last day of singles action at the 2026 US Open.

The men's tournament has thrown up plenty of stories and surprises along the way, and today a first-time champion in New York will be crowned.

It's Alexander Zverev v Ben Shelton for the title.