Zverev survives tight three-setter to make US Open final

Zverev eliminates Khachanov 6-3, 7-6, 7-6

Germany's Alexander Zverev is the reigning French Open champion. His first bite at the apple in the Big Apple was six years ago during the Covid-19 pandemic. He faced Dominic Thiem in the championship match and held two match points in the fifth set tiebreak but, with two double faults, conceded it 6-8.

After reaching the final at Wimbledon this past July (l. Sinner), the world #2 and top seed has made three consecutive grand slam finals. Standing in his way was former world #8 Karen Khachanov. While his ranking has dropped to fifty, he found form and belief at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

The thirty-year-old Russian has reached the third round twice (2018 & 2020) and the penultimate round in 2022 (l. Ruud). During this New York fortnight, he dispatched three seeds: #3 Felix Auger Aliassme, #14 Leaner Tien, and #28 Alexander Blockx via a third set retirement.

While Zverev led the head-to-head 6-3, they split the last two in 2025 during the summer hardcourt swing. Khachanov won the toss and elected to receive. Zverev made 3/5 first serves and held to 15 while Khachanov donated a double fault but held to level with an ace up the tee and a crosscourt forehand winner.

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

The top seed opened the third with a netted forehand and a double fault but held to 30 with three winners including an ace out wide on game point. Khachanov hit his second ace and held to 30, for 2-2 with a sensational forehand down the line.

Zverev hit two additional aces and secured the game with a crisp crosscourt backhand volley winner while Khachanov made 4/4 first serves and held to love with a backhand drop volley. The German missed 3/4 first serves but, with consecutive backhand winners, held to love for 4-3.

The Russian, serving with new balls, missed 5/8 first serves, including a double fault and dumped serve with three additional unforced errors. Zverev opened the ninth with a monster serve up the tee and clinched the set 6-3 when Khachanov overcooked a forehand down the middle.

The Russian served first in the second, missed six consecutive first serves and was broken when he mishit a crosscourt backhand off a deep return. Zverev struck two additional aces and, though he faced deuce, held to consolidate the break for 2-0. Khachanov missed 4/5 first serves but held to 15 when his opponent netted the return.

Zverev faced double break point following two formidable groundstroke winners from Khachanov and dropped serve with his second double fault. The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd had suddenly come to life! With many repeatedly chanting “Karen,” the former world #8 survived a two-deuce game to consolidate the break to lead 3-2.

The German gifted another double fault and faced break point and deuce, yet held to level with a brilliant backhand overhead smash. Khachanov opened the seventh with an incredible inside-in forehand and held at love with a colossal serve up the tee.

Zverev, serving with new balls, hit two consecutive winners and held to 15 with an overhead smash. Khachanov struck four consecutive winners, including an ace, and held to 15 for 5-4. Zverev, serving to stay in the set, opened with an ace up the tee and a double fault but held with two spectacular groundstroke winners.

Khachanov donated another double fault but held for 6-5 with two blistering backhand winners. The top seed, serving to stay in the set and force the breaker, ripped two additional aces and held at love.

It was a hard-hitting and riveting tiebreak. Zverev hit two additional aces but trailed 3-5. Khachanov faced set point at 5-6 but leveled at seven with an extraordinary backhand pass down the line. Zverev, however, sealed the breaker 9-7 following two consecutive forehand errors from the Russian.

Zverev served first in the third, opened with an ace and held easily to 15, while Khachanov, with a drop shot winner, held at love to level. The German faced 0-30 with two errant backhands but, with an ace up the tee, held for 2-1 while Khachanov, serving with new balls, hit two additional aces and held to level.

The world #2 donated another double fault but with another ace, held to 30 for 3-2 while the Russian held to love to level. Zverev opened the seventh with a backhand overhead smash and, while he faced deuce, held with this fourteenth ace.

Khachanov made 3/4 first serves and held at love to level at four. Zverev opened the ninth with a 137mph serve up the tee and though he donated a double fault, held to 30 to lead 5-4. Khachanov, serving to stay in the match, struck his sixth ace and held to 15 with a massive serve out wide.

Zverev hit his 15th ace and held at love for 6-5 while Khachanov held at love to force the breaker. The Russian raced to a 4-1 lead, but the top seed reached 3-5 with two outstanding forehands.

Khachanov had double set point at 6-4, but with two forehand errors, the German leveled at six. With his fastest serve of the match at 140mph, the top seed secured the breaker and match when Khachanov overcooked a backhand.

It was a supremely close contest which the stats reflect. While only two points separated them (106/104) they posted similar numbers on most metrics, on some of which Khachanov faired better. The better player may not have prevailed – perhaps the luckiest one did.

Zverev will meet the young American southpaw Ben Shelton in Sunday’s championship match. The German, a finalist in 2020 (l. Thiem) will be seeking his first US Open title and second Grand Slam of the season.

Shelton, the world #9, defeated fellow American Frances Tiafoe in four sets in the semis. He will be competing in his maiden grand slam final, and while he trails the top seed 0-5 in the head-to-head, this will be their first meeting of the season.