The door to Grand Slam glory has finally opened for Germany's Alexander Zverev, cementing his place among tennis's elite with a US Open title. This marks his second major victory in less than four months, following more than a decade of struggle marked by disappointments, controversy, and injuries.

The 29-year-old German had previously achieved his "happy ending" by winning Roland Garros in June.

Victory over rising American star

On Sunday, he reached his third consecutive Grand Slam final—having finished as runner-up at Wimbledon—before clinching the title against the rising American star Ben Shelton.

Standing 1.98 metres tall, the German player had been tipped for the top from a young age; he hails from a tennis family, with both his parents playing the sport at a high level in the former Soviet Union.