# 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.
- Title: Zverev outguns Khachanov to reach the US Open final | Shortify
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: tennis, us open, zverev, grand slam, khachanov, news, world, outguns, reach, Open, final, Malay Mail
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/sports/2026/09/12/top-seed-zverev-reaches-us-open-final-six-years-after-agonising-defeat/234892
- Published: 2026-09-12T09:31:32+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: tennis, us open, zverev, grand slam, khachanov, news, world
## 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.
## Key takeaway

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.