Alexander Zverev secured a spot in the U.S. Open final by defeating Karen Khachanov with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6) in the semifinals held in New York. Zverev is set to face either Ben Shelton, seeded eighth, or Frances Tiafoe, seeded eleventh, in the final on Sunday. The U.S. has been awaiting a men’s Grand Slam champion since 2003 when Andy Roddick claimed victory in New York.
Expressing his hopes, Zverev stated, “Hopefully I can fulfill the American dream on Sunday.” Having experienced success at the French Open and reaching the Wimbledon final this year, Zverev has an impressive 24-2 record in Grand Slam matches. Reflecting on his journey, Zverev mentioned, “Sometimes things just fall into place, and it seems like this year is meant for me to enjoy my time on the court.”
Zverev is determined to capture the title he missed out on in 2020 when he lost to Dominic Thiem in a fifth-set tiebreaker after leading by two sets. Khachanov, on the other hand, displayed resilience in the semifinal match, attempting to secure his first major final despite a challenging season.
Khachanov showcased a strong performance, rallying back after losing the first set and falling behind 2-0 in the second set. The match remained tight, with both players showcasing their skills, leading to an intense tiebreaker where Zverev emerged victorious after a 34-shot rally. Despite Khachanov’s efforts, Zverev managed to overcome deficits in the third-set tiebreaker to secure his spot in the final.