The victory continues a remarkable season for Zverev, who currently holds a 24-2 record in Grand Slam competition. Having already claimed the French Open title earlier this year and reached the final at Wimbledon, Zverev is now poised to compete for the trophy in New York, a venue where he famously suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the 2020 final.
A Determined Path to the Championship
Zverev’s path to the final was marked by resilience and composure. After a dominant opening set, the match tightened significantly as Khachanov found his rhythm. The Russian, who was aiming for his first major final, managed to break Zverev’s serve in the second set to force a tiebreaker. Zverev ultimately claimed the set after winning a grueling 34-shot rally, a moment that proved pivotal in maintaining his momentum.
The third set saw Khachanov build early leads of 3-0 and 5-2 in the tiebreaker, but Zverev mounted a successful comeback to close out the match in straight sets. This win extends Zverev’s current streak to 13 consecutive sets won, a stark contrast to his tournament start where he became the first top-seeded man to be pushed to five sets in each of his first two rounds.
Looking Ahead to the Final
Zverev now awaits the outcome of the second semifinal between No. 8 seed Ben Shelton and No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe. The winner of that encounter will represent the United States in the final, as the nation continues its quest for its first men's Grand Slam champion since Andy Roddick’s victory in 2003.
Reflecting on his journey and the upcoming challenge, Zverev acknowledged his past struggles at the major level while expressing gratitude for his current form. “Sometimes just things go your way and I feel like I’ve had a lot of struggles at the major level, I was so close so many times, and maybe this year God has said that this is going to be your year and just enjoy the time on the court,” Zverev said. Regarding the prospect of facing an American opponent in the final, he added, “Hopefully I can not make the American dream come true on Sunday.”
