Alexander Zverev Advances to US Open Final After Defeating Khachanov

Alexander Zverev marched past Karen Khachanov at the US Open to reach a third consecutive Grand Slam final, tightening his grip on a season that is starting to look like his own.

The top seed, already a major champion this year, imposed himself from the start and never really let go, winning 6-3 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (8-6) to keep alive his push for a second Slam of 2024.

The man to beat in New York

Zverev arrived in New York as the man with the target on his back. The French Open title in June finally ended his long wait for a major, and he backed it up by reaching the Wimbledon final in July, where he fell in four sets to world number one Jannik Sinner.

Now, with Sinner and defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz hampered by injuries, the 29-year-old German has become the most reliable presence at the sport’s sharp end. This run puts him into all four Grand Slam semi-finals in the same season, a level of week‑in, week‑out consistency that had long been demanded of him.

He will face either eighth seed Ben Shelton or 11th seed Frances Tiafoe in Sunday’s final, with the two Americans due to light up the night session on Friday.

“I think it will be incredibly special, especially, these two guys are crowd favourites and everyone loves them,” Zverev said on court. “Tonight will be an epic semi-final and I am looking forward to watching it. Hopefully I can not make their American dream come true.”

From 3am doubts to a New York final

This fortnight did not start with the swagger of a top seed. Zverev had to grind through five-set battles in each of his opening two matches, his level so far from his standard that he ended up laughing about it in the small hours.

“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,” he admitted. “That sense of humour helped me. I obviously have improved a bit otherwise I would not be in the US Open final.”

He has not dropped a set since.

Against world number 50 Khachanov, the scoreboard shows straight sets, but there were moments where the match threatened to twist. Zverev simply refused to let it.

Statement start, steel under pressure

The first set was a message. Zverev dominated behind his first serve, winning 13 of 15 points, and was flawless when he ventured forward, taking all nine points at the net. A single break for 5-3 was enough; he served out the opener with authority, and Khachanov trudged to his chair knowing he was already chasing.

The Russian, though, is not built to go quietly. Broken early in the second set, he clawed his way back and began to trade blow for blow from the baseline. The rallies lengthened, the tension rose, and Zverev’s early control began to fray.

The set surged into a tie-break. At 6-5, Zverev held set point, only for Khachanov to uncork a magnificent backhand at the end of a 22-shot rally, a thunderous strike that drew roars from the crowd and a clenched fist from the Russian. Suddenly, the match felt alive.

But the pressure finally told. On a pivotal point in the breaker, Zverev stepped in, took the initiative and forced another set point. This time he dragged Khachanov into a draining rally, defending superbly from the baseline before turning defence into attack and sealing the set. It was the kind of point that breaks resistance.

Tie-break nerve and a familiar stage

The third set became a serving duel. Neither man faced a break point. Games flew by, both players landing heavy first serves and refusing to blink. Once more, a tie-break would decide it.

Khachanov struck first. He settled quicker, surged ahead and created two set points, threatening to extend the contest. Zverev stared both down. He saved them, tightened his game, and from that moment he did not look back.

The top seed reeled off the key points with cold precision. Khachanov, finally, cracked. A forehand sailed long to end the match, and Zverev turned to his coaching team, arms spread wide in celebration, before walking to the net to meet his opponent.

This victory sends him into his sixth major final and his second at the US Open, four years after the heartbreak of his five-set collapse to Dominic Thiem in 2020.

Back then, he left Arthur Ashe Stadium with a sense of something lost. On Sunday, with a second Slam of the year on the line and an American crowd likely roaring for the man across the net, he walks back into the same arena as the favourite – and with the chance to rewrite his New York story for good.