Zverev Sweeps Khachanov, Reaches Sixth Major Final At US Open

Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev (photo: Jürgen Hasenkopf)

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, September 12, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

By any metric, the 2026 US Open will be one that Alexander Zverev won’t soon forget. Whether it’s coming back to win after being two points away from defeat in his first-round match or needing five sets to pull out a win in the second round, too.

The World No. 2 from Germany’s first week in the year’s final major was punctuated by late-night, dramatic finishes. In the second week, Zverev has come on strong, finding focus in his tennis while holding his nerve. Now, he finds himself in the US Open final with an opportunity to win his second major of the 2026 season.

Friday afternoon, in the first men’s semifinal on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Zverev fought off a spirited challenge from 50th-ranked Karen Khachanov of Russia and won 6-3, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6) to advance to his sixth major final – and second one at the US Open following his heartbreak loss to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 title match that was played without the benefit of any fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Only Boris Becker, among Germans, has reached more Grand Slam finals (10) than Zverev (3).

The 29-year-old Zverev is just the 17th man in the Open Era (since 1968) to reach three major finals in the same year, and is one of only six – including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner – to play in three consecutive major finals this century.

Zverev to play in third-straight major final against Shelton

Come Sunday, Zverev will play in his third-straight major final, after winning his first Grand Slam crown at the French Open, then finishing runner-up at Wimbledon. He will face an American in the final. World No. 9 Ben Shelton defeated World No. 12 and Frances Tiafoe, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5, in three hours and 17 minutes, to advance to his first major final. Shelton is the first American Black man to reach a Grand Slam singles final since MaliVai Washington at Wimbledon in 1996.

The eighth-seeded Shelton and No. 11 seed Tiafoe played in an historic semifinal Friday evening on Arthur Ashe Stadium – the first all-Black semifinal in US Open history. Ashe is the last American Black man to play in the US Open final, back in 1972. Now, Shelton follows in Ashe’s footsteps. 

“It’s a lot of emotion,” Shelton said during his on-court interview. “My dad and my mom have sacrificed a lot to be in this position today. My dad lost his mom earlier this year, and she’s the reason that he was able to play tennis. Without her, there’s no Ben Shelton standing her today. This one is for her.”

 

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Shelton, who turned pro in 2022, picked a good night to have a good night on the tennis court. He struck 20 aces and hit 47 overall winners. He outpointed Tiafoe 128-107. Shelton, who won on his second match-point opportunity after Tiafoe double faulted, will enter Sunday’s final against Zverev 0-5 lifetime, looking to beat the German No. 1 for the first time and to win his first major. Regardless of who wins, either Zverev or Shelton will be a first-time US Open champion.

“I’m gonna need you guys on Sunday to bring the energy,” Shelton said. “ I’m going for it here. I’m leaving it all on the court. I hope you come and back me. Let’s do this for the USA. And one more thing — it’s a difficult day to be out here playing. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families who were impacted by 9/11. This is one of the greatest cities in the world.”

“I think it’s going to be incredibly special, especially these two guys, Frances and Ben, that are crowd favorites here in New York,” Zverev said during his on-court interview, prior to the second semifinal. “Everybody loves them, and I think tonight is going to be an absolutely epic semifinal, and I’m looking forward to watching it. Hopefully I can not make the American dream come true on Sunday.”

Zverev has logged most hours on court, benefited from upsets

Since Zverev’s near-exit in the first round against Lorenzo Sonego of Italy in his 11th career US Open main draw, he’s gone on to defeat Quentin Halys of France in five sets; and Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, No. 21 seed Luciano Darderi of Italy, Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands and Khachanov in straight sets. In total, Zverev has logged more than 19 hours on court. He has also benefited from the upper half of the draw opening up following the upsets of No. 3 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, No. 6 seed Alex de Minaur and No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz. 

“Yeah, after the second round at 3 a.m., I was sitting with my team in the locker room and we were laughing at how bad I was playing,” Zverev said. “That sense of humor, that helped me. The next day on the practice court, I was hitting the ball a lot better. Moving forward, I was playing much better tennis and I obviously have improved a little bit, otherwise I would not be in the U.S. Open final.”

Zverev’s two-hour, 58-minute win over Khachanov, a three-time US Open semifinalist, was his sixth-straight victory at Flushing Meadows. He did it by hitting 38 winners – including 15 aces – and won 79 percent (55 of 70) of his first-serve points. Zverev converted two of three break points, was broken just once, and outpointed the former Top-10 player Khachanov 107-104.

Look, sometimes things just go your way,” Zverev said. “I’ve had a lot of struggles at the major level, I was so close so many times, and maybe this year God has said that this is going to be your year and just enjoy the time on the court. I’m enjoying it a lot playing these big finals, and I can’t wait until Sunday.”

 

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Siniakova and Townsend complete Career Grand Slam as team

Katerina Siniakova of Czechia and Taylor Townsend of the United States rallied from a set down to win the US Open women’s doubles title on Arthur Ashe Stadium Friday afternoon.

The No. 1 seeds defeated American wild cards Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2, in one hour and 53 minutes to capture their second major title of the season to go with their earlier French Open crown.

The US Open triumph completes a career Grand Slam for the right-handed Siniakova and lefty Townsend as a team. Both 30, they began by winning the Wimbledon title in 2024, followed it by claiming the Australian Open crown in 2025, then struck success at both Roland-Garros and Flushing Meadows this year.

Previously, Siniakova earned a career Grand Slam teamed with fellow Czech Barbora Krejcikova between 2018-2022 before joining forces with Townsend. Siniakova has now won 12 major women’s doubles crowns as well as a Grand Slam mixed doubles title. She’s the ninth woman to complete the career Grand Slam twice – and the first player woman or man to do so with different partners.

Meanwhile, Townsend is the first American to win the US Open women’s doubles title since Coco Vandeweghe won the 2018 title teamed with Ashleigh Barty of Australia. She’s the 18th player overall to achieve a career Grand Slam since the start of the Open Era.

Siniakova and Townsend won 79 percent 38 of 48) of their first-serve points, combined to hit 42 winners, converted six of 11 break points and outpointed their opponents 97-67.

“Big thanks to Taylor. You are really fighting for this one, so I’m just really proud we did it. There were a lot of nerves. … Thank you for staying by my side,” Siniakova said during the trophy ceremony.

Townsend was twice a US Open finalist, in 2022 with Caty McNally of the United States and last year with Siniakova. Ironically, when Townsend and McNally lost the 2022 final, it was to Siniakova and Krejcikova.

With Friday’s US Open title secured, Siniakova and Townsend improved to 81-16 as a team overall – 37-4 this season – and are 7-0 in finals in 2026. En route to winning the US Open title, they dropped just one set.

“If flipping the script had a face, you’d see my face,” Townsend said during the trophy ceremony.

Later, during their champion’s news conference, Townsend added: “I think that’s what I’ve learned is just being able to have someone on my side that is able to help me through these situations and through these moments, and it helps to have someone that’s been here so many times and who has been able to get over the hump 12 times.”

Around the US Open

Wheelchair finals took place in men’s doubles, women’s doubles and quad doubles at the US Open on Friday.

Friday’s US Open results

Saturday’s US Open order of play

By the numbers

• Before this year, there have been 12 different American men who have been US Open finalists, including: Pete Sampras (8), Jimmy Connors (7), Andre Agassi (6), John McEnroe (5), Arthur Ashe (2), Andy Roddick (2), Stan Smith (1), Vitas Gerulaitis (1), Jim Courier (1), Michael Chang (1), Todd Martin (1) and Taylor Fritz (1). 

Now, Ben Shelton is the 13th American man after defeating Frances Tiafoe Friday evening.

• There have been 90 majors contested since the last American winner of a Grand Slam title, Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open.

“Quotable …”

“I really understand how tough it is to reach World No. 1. It was one of my goals. But right now, not much I could do. I didn’t really perform well in the middle of the season. Elena took it over and played really well. She took away the No. 1 position. Not much I can do about that. I can only focus on myself and stay in the moment and try to do my best right now. Just keep it tight and maybe I will take it back from her. It does feel a bit weird you can perform well at the tournament and still be taken way the No. 1 position. It’s okay. It’s sport. I love that. That’s the beauty of sport. Everyone chasing everyone. It’s all about little things you improve and get better at.”

– Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, current No. 1 player, during her post-match news conference Thursday after defeating Jessica Pegula to keep alive her hopes of a US Open three-peat.

“I’ll need to bring my best serve and make the right decision in the right moment. Most of the time it’s tight scores. This is where the decision makes a difference.”

– Soon-to-be World No. 1 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, during her post-match news conference Thursday after defeating Coco Gauff to advance to Saturday’s final against Aryna Sabalenka. 

 

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