Alexander Zverev Reaches US Open Final After Surviving Khachanov in Two Tiebreaks

Alexander Zverev is back in the US Open final after producing another composed performance on the biggest stage, defeating Karen Khachanov in straight sets Friday at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The top-seeded German prevailed 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-6(6), overcoming Khachanov in two tense tiebreaks to secure his second US Open final appearance. The victory also extends an extraordinary run for Zverev, who has now reached three consecutive Grand Slam finals.

Zverev’s opponent in Sunday’s championship match will be either American Ben Shelton or Frances Tiafoe. Regardless of who advances, the 2026 US Open men’s singles tournament is guaranteed to produce a new champion.

Zverev stays composed when the match tightens

The semifinal could have turned in Khachanov’s favor several times, particularly in the latter stages.

Zverev took the opening set 6-3, but neither player could establish sustained control in the second. After trading breaks, the set went to a tiebreak, where Zverev’s serving gave him enough separation to eventually close it out 9-7. He hit seven aces in the set.

The third set was even more demanding.

Khachanov raised his level and attacked more aggressively, while Zverev’s first-serve percentage dropped to 52 percent. The German nevertheless repeatedly used his serve to escape difficult situations and force another tiebreak.

Khachanov opened the breaker strongly, taking a 5-2 advantage and later earning two set points at 6-4. Zverev responded by winning the next three points and completed the comeback, taking the tiebreak 8-6 and the match in straight sets.

Afterward, Zverev acknowledged how close the match had been, saying that things had gone his way during several crucial moments.

A remarkable Grand Slam run continues

The result is another milestone in what has become Zverev’s strongest season at the majors.

The 29-year-old won his first Grand Slam championship at Roland Garros earlier this year and then reached the Wimbledon final. His run in New York now gives him a chance to win a second major title in the same season.

His semifinal appearance was already notable: according to the US Open, Zverev became only the ninth man in the Open Era to reach the semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments in the same season.

He also entered the tournament as the world’s No. 1 seed, making this his first US Open campaign from the top position.

Zverev had reached at least the quarterfinals at all four majors in 2026 before the US Open final run, underlining the consistency that has defined his season.

The US Open final will feature a new champion

Zverev’s victory also settled one important piece of the championship picture: the eventual men’s singles champion will be a first-time US Open winner.

The only former US Open champion to reach this year’s quarterfinals was Carlos Alcaraz, but Ben Shelton eliminated the defending champion in a five-set quarterfinal.

That leaves Zverev as the only remaining player who has previously contested a US Open men’s singles final. He lost the 2020 championship match to Dominic Thiem after holding a two-set lead.

For Zverev, Sunday’s final therefore represents both a return to a familiar stage and another opportunity to finish a Grand Slam tournament with the trophy.

Shelton or Tiafoe awaits

Zverev will face either Shelton or Tiafoe in the final.

He has dominated his previous meetings with both potential opponents. Zverev has won all five of his matches against Shelton, while Tiafoe has beaten him only once in 10 career meetings. Their most recent meeting came earlier this year, when Zverev defeated Tiafoe in straight sets at Indian Wells.

Those records give Zverev a statistical edge, but they do not settle the final. Neither potential opponent has previously faced him in a Grand Slam match, and both Americans would enter the championship match with the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd behind them.

Why the result matters

Zverev’s run is significant beyond simply reaching another final.

After years of deep Grand Slam runs without a major championship, he finally broke through at Roland Garros this season. His subsequent Wimbledon final and now another US Open final show a level of consistency across surfaces and tournaments that has established him as one of the central figures in men’s tennis in 2026.

The challenge now is completing the job in New York.

Zverev’s 2020 US Open final remains the most prominent unfinished chapter of his history at the tournament. Six years later, he has another opportunity to win the title, this time after already securing his first Grand Slam championship earlier in the season.

The men’s singles final is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13, at the US Open in New York.