While the scoreline suggests a routine win, the match was a grueling test that lasted two hours and 57 minutes. Zverev was forced to dig deep during the final stages, saving two set points in the third-set tiebreak to avoid being pushed into a fourth set. The victory continues a strong run for the top seed, who has steadily improved his form after enduring two physically demanding, five-set matches during the opening fortnight of the tournament.
A Hard-Fought Path to the Final
Khachanov, currently ranked 50th in the world, proved to be a resilient opponent throughout the contest. After Zverev dominated the opening set, the Russian found his rhythm in the second, breaking back after an early deficit to force a tense tiebreak. The momentum remained tight in the third set, with neither player conceding a break point, leading to another decisive tiebreak where Khachanov held a 6-4 lead before a series of unforced errors allowed Zverev to close out the match.
Reflecting on the intensity of the battle, Zverev acknowledged the quality of his opponent, noting that while the match ended in straight sets, the second and third frames could easily have swung in the other direction. Zverev, who previously lost the 2020 US Open final to Dominic Thiem, now awaits the outcome of the all-American semi-final between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. The German expressed awareness of the stakes, joking that he hopes to prevent an American victory on Sunday as the home crowd looks to end a long-standing drought for a men’s major champion.
The American Pursuit of History
The remaining semi-final between Shelton and Tiafoe carries significant weight for the host nation, which has not celebrated a men’s Grand Slam champion since Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open win. Both players are vying for their first major final, adding a layer of high-stakes drama to the bottom half of the draw.
Shelton enters the match following a career-defining quarter-final victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, a match that concluded at 3:34 am, setting a record for the latest finish in tournament history. With a balanced head-to-head record between the two Americans at the US Open, the winner will carry the pressure of a nation eager to see a breakthrough on home soil. Zverev, meanwhile, remains focused on his own objective as he prepares to challenge the survivor of that clash for the trophy.
