Sports10 September, 20262 min read
Alexander Zverev Beats Karen Khachanov to Reach Third Consecutive Grand Slam Final
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Zverev defeated Karen Khachanov in the US Open semifinal to reach third consecutive Grand Slam final. Zverev won 6-3, 7-6(9-7), 7-6(8-6) against Khachanov.
7 outlets told this the same way.
Zverev reaches final
Alexander Zverev beat Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6) in the U.S. Open semifinals on Friday (September 11, 2026) to reach his third consecutive Grand Slam final and a second U.S. Open final after 2020.
Zverev will play on Sunday against No. 8 seed Ben Shelton or No. 11 Frances Tiafoe, with both semifinalists set to play later on Friday for the right to give the U.S. a man in Sunday's final.
The BBC said Zverev put in a commanding performance to beat the Russian 6-3 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (8-6) and continue his bid for a second major of the year.
In New York, Zverev’s path to the final included a bid to end the U.S. wait for its first men's Grand Slam champion since Andy Roddick won in New York in 2003, and he said, “Hopefully I can not make the American dream come true on Sunday.”
Quotes and match texture
Zverev’s semifinal against Khachanov featured tight second- and third-set tie-breaks, with The Hindu describing how the Russian erased Zverev's first two set points in the second-set tiebreak before Zverev finished it off by winning a 34-shot rally.
The BBC reported that Zverev saved two set points in the third set against world number 50 Khachanov, and it quoted Zverev saying, “After the second round, at about 3am I was sitting with my team in the locker room and we were laughing at how bad I was playing.”
HamHigh said Zverev’s semi-final was scheduled for the afternoon session on Arthur Ashe Stadium and that he came through 6-3 7-6 (7) 7-6 (6) in straight sets.
HamHigh also quoted Zverev looking ahead to Sunday, saying, “Moving forward I was playing better tennis. Obviously I’ve been improving otherwise I wouldn’t be in the final. I’m enjoying it and I can’t wait for Sunday.”
What’s at stake next
With Zverev into his third straight Grand Slam final, the BBC framed the moment as a bid for a second major of the year and said the 29-year-old will play either eighth seed Ben Shelton or 11th seed Frances Tiafoe in Sunday's showpiece. The Hindu said the U.S. is still seeking its first men's Grand Slam champion since Andy Roddick won in New York in 2003, and it noted Zverev’s record of 24-2 in Grand Slam matches this season as he tries to win a title he “still can't believe he let get away in 2020.”
HamHigh said Zverev has the chance for a second grand slam title after breaking his major duck at the French Open before losing the Wimbledon final to Sinner, and it added that he reached the last four after spending a record total of 16 hours and 40 minutes on court. In the BBC’s account, Zverev’s victory means he is into his second US Open final after suffering a heartbreaking five-set loss to Dominic Thiem in 2020, and it described him standing arms wide in celebration before shaking hands with Khachanov.