Alexander Zverev secured a spot in the US Open semifinals for the first time since 2021, defeating Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets on Wednesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Zverev won the quarterfinal match with scores of 6-2, 7-5, and 6-1, continuing a streak of not dropping a set in his last three matches.
Zverev is set to face Karen Khachanov in the semifinals. Khachanov advanced after his scheduled opponent, No. 28 seed Alexander Blockx, retired due to injury. This marks Zverev's first appearance in the Flushing Meadows semifinals since 2021.
This season has been a career-best for Zverev, who is aiming for his second Grand Slam title of the year. He captured his first major championship at Roland Garros in June and followed it with a run to the Wimbledon final. By reaching all four Grand Slam semifinals in a single calendar year for the first time, Zverev, at 29 years and 143 days old, has become the oldest player in the Open Era to achieve this feat.
"I think the more often that you get to that stage, the more normal it becomes, which is something that you should never take for granted," Zverev said after his match. "I think it’s a very special feeling when it becomes normality. I don’t take it for granted at all. I know it can change in a heartbeat in tennis. I think confidence is something that is incredibly important, but also can go away quite quickly."
He added, "I found that out after Wimbledon, where I didn’t play well throughout the two tournaments on a hard courts, and then I found it again here. Of course, I’m happy with how things are going, but I still hope to play two good matches here."
With top contenders Jannik Sinner not participating and Carlos Alcaraz eliminated in the quarterfinals, the men's draw is considered wide open. Should Zverev win the US Open, he would be the first male singles player besides Sinner, Alcaraz, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or Novak Djokovic to win multiple Grand Slam titles in the same calendar year since Andre Agassi in 1999.
Zverev controlled the first set, converting two of three break points in 37 minutes. The second set remained competitive until the final games, with Zverev breaking van de Zandschulp's serve to take a 6-5 lead and closing out the set shortly after. The third set saw Zverev maintain his momentum, securing the win with ease.
This will be the second meeting between Zverev and Khachanov this year. Their last encounter at the 2025 Cincinnati Open saw Khachanov retire due to injury after losing the first set and trailing in the second. Zverev defeated Khachanov in straight sets in the final of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to win the gold medal.