Playing Under Pressure: Why Tennis Leaves No Time to Think

Zverev Navigates Past Khachanov in Straight Sets

Alexander Zverev secured his place in the championship match with a 6-3, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6) victory over Karen Khachanov. The German player leaned on a disciplined service performance, hitting 15 aces while neutralizing pressure during critical tie-break sequences. According to match reports, Khachanov pushed the second seed through lengthy exchanges and even earned two set points in the third-set tie-break before Zverev closed out the match in straight sets.

The victory propels Zverev into his third Grand Slam final, following his triumph at Roland-Garros earlier in the season.

Ben Shelton Reaches First Major Final

Awaiting Zverev in the title match is American standout Ben Shelton, who earned his maiden Grand Slam final appearance by defeating compatriot Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court. Shelton, seeded ninth, delivered a powerful display that included 20 aces and 47 winners, overcoming a slow start and a first-set lapse.

The 23-year-old American continued his strong summer form—highlighted by a Masters 1000 title in Montreal—by outlasting Tiafoe in front of a packed New York crowd. Shelton’s run to the final also featured a grueling five-set victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the previous round, establishing his credentials on hard courts.

Championship Stakes and Historical Context

The home crowd has awaited an American men’s singles champion at Flushing Meadows since Andy Roddick lifted the trophy in 2003. Shelton, who was less than a year old when Roddick won that title, carries the weight of that two-decade drought into his first major final.

For Zverev, the match represents an opportunity to capture a second major title of the 2026 season and make amends for his heartbreaking five-set loss in the 2020 US Open final against Dominic Thiem.

Match Schedule and What to Watch

The US Open men’s singles final is scheduled for Sunday at Flushing Meadows.