Alexander Zverev has reached the final of the US Open in New York, securing a straight-sets victory over Karen Khachanov on September 12, 2026, according to Die Zeit and Sportschau. The German tennis professional triumphed 6:3, 7:6 (9:7), 7:6 (8:6) at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, putting him one match away from capturing his second Grand-Slam title.
Path to the New York Final
Zverev navigated the semifinal clash against world number 50 Karen Khachanov in straight sets, though the Russian opponent pushed him to decisive tiebreaks in both the second and third sets. According to Sportschau, Zverev started aggressively, breaking in the first set to seal a 6:3 win before enduring a more tightly contested battle as Khachanov matched his level during extended rallies.
The second and third sets both extended into tense tiebreaks. In the second-set tiebreak, Zverev secured a 9:7 victory following an exhausting, lengthy exchange that highlighted his physical endurance. In the third set, Khachanov mounted a strong challenge, taking early leads of 5:2 and 6:4 in the tiebreak. However, Sportschau reported that Zverev maintained his composure on the big points, winning the tiebreak 8:6 to close out the match without dropping a single set for the fourth round.
Historic Milestones and Season Momentum
By reaching the final in New York, Zverev set several notable German tennis records, as noted by Die Zeit. He is now the first male German player to reach the US Open final twice, surpassing Boris Becker, Michael Stich, and Gottfried von Cramm. Furthermore, this marks his third Grand-Slam final appearance, following his victory at the French Open and his runner-up finish against Jannik Sinner in Wimbledon.
Reflecting on his consistent deep runs at major tournaments, Zverev told reporters, as cited by Die Zeit: »Manchmal laufen die Dinge in deine Richtung. Ich war so oft so nah dran. Vielleicht hat Gott gesagt, dieses Jahr wird dein Jahr, hab einfach Spaß auf dem Platz«.
With Jannik Sinner absent from the tournament due to injury, Zverev’s deep run at Flushing Meadows also allowed him to overtake Sinner in the year-to-date rankings.
Awaiting the Championship Match
In the final on Sunday, Zverev will face the winner of the all-American semifinal matchup between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, according to Die Zeit and Sportschau. While the 29-year-old holds strong historical head-to-head records against both American players, he will step onto the court facing partisan home support for his opponent.
For the first time during the tournament, Zverev played a daytime match rather than an evening fixture under the lights. The scheduling adjustment may offer a tactical benefit ahead of the championship match, which is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM local time (20:00 CEST), matching the afternoon rhythm of his semifinal victory.
Worth a look
