Zverev’s US Open final mission: “Not make the American dream come true”

Alexander Zverev knew what was waiting for him before it had been decided. “Hopefully I can not make the American dream come true on Sunday,” the German top seed said on court after beating Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6) to reach the US Open final.

Zverev is not treating the occasion as a burden. “I love playing these big finals and I can’t wait for Sunday,” he said, before turning to the two men who would decide which of them joins him in it. “I think it’s gonna be incredibly special, especially these two guys, Frances and Ben. They’re the crowd favorites here in New York, everybody loves them.”

Ben Shelton finally won his semifinal against Frances Tiafoe, and Zverev was already clear that one of them would be across the net and that the stadium would belong to him. “I think it’s gonna be incredibly special, especially these two guys, Frances and Ben. They’re the crowd favorites here in New York, everybody loves them.”

“I enjoy these kind of atmospheres”, Zverev added in the press conference. “I’ve said it before. I played a lot of French guys in France. I think the most hostile crowd, if you call it that, is when you are playing a French in Paris Bercy back in the day. That was quite intense, and I always enjoyed those. Of course, I played Australian guys in Australia. I played Arthur Fery at Wimbledon. The Wimbledon crowd is a bit different, though. For me, a loud and energetic crowd is always great, as long as they’re fair, as long as they don’t interrupt in the middle of points.”

I’ma leave it all on the court. I hope you guys come and back me.

The stakes on the other side of the net are larger than a trophy. No American man has won a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick at this tournament in 2003, a gap of 23 years, and no Black American man has won it since Arthur Ashe in 1968.

A few hours later Shelton stood on the same court and asked the stadium to come back on Sunday. “I’ma need you guys to bring the energy. We’re going for it here. I’ma leave it all on the court. I hope you guys come and back me. Let’s do this for the USA.”

Zverev is the only Grand Slam champion left in the draw. He won Roland-Garros this year and has now reached three consecutive major finals, losing the Wimbledon one to Jannik Sinner. He is in his sixth Grand Slam final and his second at the US Open, and he has spent most of a decade being the best player without a major before finally winning one in June.