By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, September 11, 2026
Photo credit: Pete Staples/USTA
NEW YORK—Alexander Zverev dubs Karen Khachanov “The Professor” for his astute analytical mind.
Today, Zverev schooled the tennis academic in the art of managing major tiebreakers.
Playing with the confidence of a man on a tenure track, Zverev saved two set points in the third-set breaker conquering Khachanov 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-6(6) to advance to his third consecutive Grand Slam final.
Rallying from 2-5 down in the third-set tiebreaker, Zverev won six of the final seven points. When Khachanov’s final backhand sailed beyond the baseline, Zverev paused and raised his arms toward his box, including father Alexander, Sr. and older brother Mischa.
Six years after he squandered a two-set lead suffering a painful collapse to Dominic Thiem in a gut-wrenching five-set US Open final loss in 2020, Zverev had plenty to smile about today. Dispensing a damaging first serve, smooth lateral movement and some stinging backhand strikes down the line, Zverev defeated Khachanov for the seventh time in 10 meetings, winning precisely three more points (107 to 104).
Olympic gold-medal champion Zverev zapped 15 aces and dropped serve just once in a physical two hour, 58-minute match that left night-session ticket-holders outside cheering the result so that they could gain admittance for the all-American Ben Shelton v. Frances Tiafoe semifinal scheduled for 7 p.m., but subject to a later start time as staffers worked to clear Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I decided to have some majors in me,” Zverev told Sam Querrey afterward. “Sometimes things just go your way and I feel I’ve had a lot of struggle at the major level.
“I was so close so many times. Maybe this year God has said this is going to be your year just enjoy it. I can’t wait for Sunday.”
World No. 2 Zverev improved to 24-2 in Grand Slam play this season, advancing to Australian Open semifinals where he dropped a heart-breaker to Carlos Alcaraz, capturing his maiden major out-dueling Flavio Cobolli in a five-set Roland Garros triumph and reaching the Wimbledon final losing to Jannik Sinner. Zverev made history as the first German man to reach finals of all four majors in his career.
The top-seeded Zverev will face an American in Sunday’s final—either eighth-seeded Shelton or 11th-seeded Tiafoe. Zverev has defeated Tiafoe in nine of 10 meetings and owns a perfect 5-0 record over Shelton.
“I think it’s going to be incredibly special, especially these two guys Frances and Ben, are the fan favorites in New York,” Zverev said. “Everyone loves them. I think tonight is gonna be an epic semifinal.
“Hopefully I can make the American dream not come true.”
In a match where both power players are typically net averse, Zverev won 21 of 26 trips to net, applying pressure at the right times.
The 2020 finalist fired an ace and followed with a slick backhand swing volley holding easily for 3-2.
Three games later, Khachanov double faulted to drop to deuce. Repelling everything the Russian hit, Zverev slid a slice backhand and drew a netted backhand reply for the first break of the semifinal. Defending a heavy serve, Zverev broke for 5-3 when Khachanov jerked a jittery forehand well wide.
On his first set point, Zverev soaked up Khachanov’s pace and drew an errant forehand on the 16th shot for a one set lead.
Zverev registered his 36th consecutive hold, closing out the 37-minute opener with authority. Committed baseliner Zverev took the action to Khachanov going nine for nine at net in the first set.
The bad news for Khachanov: Zverev was 24-7 in Flushing Meadows when winning the first set.
The worse news for Khachanov: He played an atrocious game to surrender serve at the start of the second set.
In cruise control for the first hour, Zverev was jolted by a Khachanov forehand strike down the line for break points. The German double faulted back the break as Khachanov leveled after four games.
Clad in a crimson Wilson kit, Khachanov was two points from the second set when Zverev banged a backhand down the line that helped him hold for 5-All.
Zverev slid his eighth ace down the T to force the second-set tiebreaker.
Though Khachanov carried an unimposing 8-15 tiebreaker record this season into the extra session, he drew a backhand miss to go up 5-3.
A combination of Zverev’s big blasts on first serve and some determined defense helped him turn the tiebreaker around.
The top seed held set point at 6-5 only to see Khachanov crank a crosscourt forehand to save it.
Serving with a second set point at 7-6, Zverev, who was methodically bouncing the ball between 15 and 20 times before serving, was hit with a time violation warning by chair umpire Damien Dumusois earning extended cheers from the Ashe Stadium crowd. Khachanov blurred a backhand down the line to save the second set point.
On his third set point, Zverev withstood Khachancov’s baseline barrage and kept the ball deep, eventually drawing a shanked forehand wide to end a grueling 14-minute tiebreaker.
The 29-year-old German boasted an 84-3 record when winning the first two sets in a Grand Slam.
Still, Khachanov was not done.
The bearded Russian launched a flying forehand down the line to open the third-set tiebreaker with the mini break that he quickly consolidated for 2-0.
Targeting the German’s forehand, Khachanov extended his lead to 5-2 then smacked a 129 mph serve winner for double set point at 6-4.
Despite hitting heavy shots throughout this three-hour clash, Khachanov’s forehand failed him at crunch time. Khachanov framed a wild forehand squandering the first set point with his 20th forehand unforced error.
On the second set point, Khachanov over-hit a forehand long as Zverev leveled, 6-All.
Rocketing a massive 140 mph missile down the T brought Zverev a match point.
On the 10th shot of the ensuing rally, Khachanov misfired one final time and Zverev was back in the final—his sixth career Grand Slam final.
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