US Open 2026: Alexander Zverev reaches third consecutive Grand Slam final
German tennis star Alexander Zverev defeats Karen Khachanov in straight sets at the US Open to advance to his second career final in New York.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Alexander Zverev defeats Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (8-6)
- Reaches his third consecutive Grand Slam final of the year
- Awaits winner of Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe for Sunday's championship match
Top seed Alexander Zverev delivered a commanding performance at the 2026 US Open in New York, defeating Russia's Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (8-6) to secure his spot in a third consecutive Grand Slam final. The German continued his strong pursuit of a second major title of the year following his breakthrough triumph at Roland Garros in June.
Zverev reached the Wimbledon final back in July, where he fell in four sets to world number one Jannik Sinner. Facing world number 50 Khachanov, the 29-year-old maintained control throughout the match despite brief moments of pressure, including saving two set points in a tense third set.
Looking ahead to Sunday's championship showpiece in New York, Zverev will face either eighth seed Ben Shelton or 11th seed Frances Tiafoe. The two American crowd favorites are scheduled to square off in Friday's night session.
"I think it will be incredibly special especially, these two guys are crowd favourites and everyone loves them," said Zverev. "Tonight will be an epic semi-final and I am looking forward to watching it. Hopefully I can not make their American dream come true."
Alexander Zverev
The German's path to the final required immense resilience, having started the tournament slowly with demanding five-set battles in his opening two matches. However, he has not dropped a single set since, displaying a newly found consistency that has enabled him to reach all four Grand Slam semi-finals this season amidst injuries to rivals such as Sinner and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Alexander Zverev's consistent deep runs across all major tournaments in 2026 highlight a significant maturity in his game and physical endurance. Capitalizing on the injury absences and physical struggles of top competitors like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the German has effectively established himself as the most durable player on the tour this season.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Victory over Khachanov marks Zverev's sixth major final appearance overall and his second at Flushing Meadows. His previous US Open final appearance in 2020 ended in a heartbreaking five-set defeat to Dominic Thiem, setting the stage for a shot at redemption on Sunday.
Source: BBC Sport
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