Alexander Zverev is one victory away from a second career grand slam after beating Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6) to reach the US Open final. The German steadied himself in two tense tie-breaks late in the match and closed out a straight-sets win that moves him into his third consecutive major final.
Khachanov offered a strong mid-match fight, forcing the second-set tie-break and saving a set point with a forehand winner before roaring after a backhand passing shot at 6-7. Zverev, who did not let that momentum unsettle him, reasserted control through a combination of a powerful serve and steady groundstrokes, while Khachanov’s forehand produced costly errors at decisive moments late in the second and third sets.
The victory extends a remarkable run for Zverev. He followed his maiden major title at Roland Garros with a first Wimbledon final this summer, and he will now contest his sixth grand slam final in total. His route in this tournament has featured lower-ranked opponents at the top half of the draw, with his highest seeds so far No 22 Luciano Darderi and No 28 Alejandro Tabilo. Had he already won Roland Garros and Wimbledon, a US Open triumph would give him two major titles without facing a top-eight opponent.
Khachanov entered the match as world No 50, a ranking that masks a résumé including a career-high No 8, an Olympic silver medal behind Zverev at Tokyo 2020, and the Paris Masters title in 2018. He also has had meaningful success against Zverev historically, but this time Zverev’s consistency proved superior across key points. Earlier in the tournament Zverev survived two five-set battles in the opening rounds, since when he has not dropped a set.
Zverev will meet either Frances Tiafoe or Ben Shelton in the final. With a combined 15-1 record against those two players, and only one loss to Tiafoe dating back nine years, the German will head into the title match as a clear favourite.
