From Malay Mail · · 2m
Zverev outguns Khachanov to reach the US Open final
Six years after letting a US Open title slip away, Alexander Zverev gets one more Sunday in New York.
In brief
Six years after letting a US Open title slip away, Alexander Zverev gets one more Sunday in New York. Zverev is one win from his second major, and he is the last obstacle between American men's tennis and its first Grand Slam title in 23 years. Originally reported by Malay Mail.
Zverev books the final
Top seed Alexander Zverev beat Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (8/6) on Friday to reach Sunday's US Open title match. It took him two hours and 57 minutes.
“Straight-set win, but anything but straightforward in a way”
Three finals in a row
He won his maiden major at the French Open, then finished runner-up at Wimbledon. New York makes it three straight Grand Slam finals.
A grinding start
Zverev spent nine hours and 26 minutes on court surviving five-setters in the first two rounds. He has sharpened up with every match since.
Khachanov's shot at history
Ranked 50th, the Russian was trying to become the lowest-ranked Grand Slam finalist since world number 54 Marcos Baghdatis at the 2006 Australian Open.
The second set turned
Khachanov fell an early break behind, then grinned at a sneaky passing shot and punched the air at a forehand winner that gave him his first break chance. A Zverev double fault handed it over.
Two set points saved
In the second-set tiebreak Khachanov wiped out two Zverev set points with a thumping forehand and a backhand down the line. Zverev closed it out anyway, 9-7.
Third set, no breaks
Neither man earned a break point. Khachanov led the tiebreak 6-4 and then missed two forehands, and Zverev struck his 15th ace before a long forehand ended the match.
“I just played a few points better here and there, and I'm happy with the win.”
The 2020 wound
Zverev came agonisingly close to this title in 2020 before Dominic Thiem beat him in five sets. Six years later he is back in the same match.
“Hopefully I can not make the American dream come true on Sunday”
Shelton's 3.34am epic
Ben Shelton knocked out defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarter-final that finished at 3.34am, the latest end to a match in US Open history.
America's 23-year drought
Shelton meets Frances Tiafoe for the other final spot, both chasing a first major final. No American man has won a Slam since Andy Roddick here in 2003.
Rybakina meets Sabalenka
Saturday's women's final pits Elena Rybakina against Aryna Sabalenka, who is going for a third straight US Open crown. Rybakina just ended her near two-year run as world number one.
What to remember
Zverev is one win from his second major, and he is the last obstacle between American men's tennis and its first Grand Slam title in 23 years.
