Alexander Zverev is back in the US Open final after defeating Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-6(6) in a tense semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The scoreline says straight sets, but the contest turned on two narrow tiebreaks in which the German handled the decisive points better.
Zverev will play Sunday's championship match with a chance to collect the second Grand Slam title of his career. The reigning French Open champion has now reached three consecutive major finals and returned to the stage where he suffered one of his most painful defeats, losing the 2020 US Open final after leading Dominic Thiem by two sets.
This run has been especially striking because Zverev did not begin the tournament smoothly. He needed five sets in each of his first two rounds. Since then, he has won four matches without dropping a set.
How did Zverev win the semifinal?
Zverev established control early with a 6-3 opening set. His first serve gave him short points, while his depth made it difficult for Khachanov to attack from a comfortable position.
The second and third sets were much closer. Khachanov protected his serve well enough to force tiebreaks and repeatedly made Zverev play an extra ball. The difference was composure at the end of both sets.
Zverev saved his cleanest combinations for the highest-pressure moments. Khachanov's errors became more expensive because there was no time to recover inside a tiebreak. By winning both, Zverev avoided the physical and emotional danger of a fourth set.
The result improved his head-to-head record against Khachanov to seven wins in ten meetings. It also extended an excellent major season in which Zverev has won 24 of 26 Grand Slam matches.
Why has Zverev improved during the tournament?
After his difficult opening rounds, Zverev described feeling as though he had begun the event without a reliable level. Surviving those matches allowed him to settle rather than peak immediately.
His serve has become more dependable, reducing the number of defensive rallies he must play. He has also been willing to move forward when a short ball appears instead of remaining several metres behind the baseline.
The biggest improvement may be psychological. Winning the French Open removed the question of whether he could finish a major. In New York, he has played the important points like someone who expects to survive them.
That does not make him unbeatable. Long stretches of passive play can still allow an aggressive opponent to dictate. But his floor—the level he produces when timing is imperfect—has risen considerably.
What happened to Khachanov?
Khachanov did not collapse. He forced two sets beyond 6-6 and kept pressure on Zverev deep into the match. His problem was that he could not convert competitive sets into scoreboard reward.
Against an elite server, a handful of decisions can define an entire match. A loose forehand, a missed first serve or a return left short in a tiebreak carries more weight than the same mistake at 2-2.
Khachanov's tournament remains a strong result, but the semifinal again demonstrated the fine margin between reaching the last four and playing for the trophy.
Who will Zverev face in the final?
Zverev was waiting for the winner of the all-American semifinal between Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton. Either opponent would have overwhelming support inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Zverev said he welcomes the atmosphere. His only previous US Open final was played in 2020 without a normal crowd because of pandemic restrictions. Sunday's match will offer the noise and pressure that were absent from that experience.
Tiafoe would bring speed, improvisation and the ability to energise the audience. Shelton would bring a huge left-handed serve and aggressive first-strike tennis. Zverev's return position and ability to manage crowd momentum will be important against either player.
What would a second major mean?
Winning in New York would confirm Zverev's transition from perennial contender to multiple-major champion. His career has already included Olympic gold, ATP Finals titles and long periods near the top of the rankings, but Grand Slam results define how the best players are remembered.
A second title in the same season would also make his 2026 campaign exceptional. More importantly, it would close the circle on the 2020 final, when he came within two games of the championship before losing in five sets.
Zverev is older, more experienced and now knows what it feels like to complete the final step at a major. Yet the New York final presents a different test: a sold-out stadium supporting an American opponent.
What to watch on Sunday
The first-serve percentage will be the simplest indicator. When Zverev lands his first delivery consistently, opponents struggle to create break chances. His second serve, historically a pressure point, becomes less exposed.
Watch also how close he stands to the baseline. If he retreats too far, an attacking opponent can control the court. If he holds his ground and redirects pace, his reach and backhand can neutralise even powerful hitting.
Finally, the crowd will matter. Zverev must accept noise without rushing. The semifinal showed that he can win tight sets through patience. One more performance of that kind would give him his first US Open trophy and second major.
Source: Reuters, September 11, 2026.
