Zverev is off court in 2 hours 17 minutes and into a first US Open semifinal since 2021
Alexander Zverev has now reached the semifinals of all four Grand Slams in the same season, beating Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 in two hours and 17 minutes against a Dutchman who had spent 5 hours and 13 minutes on court two days earlier. The Roland-Garros champion is the only major winner left in a men’s draw where Karen Khachanov, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe are all chasing a first.
Alexander Zverev, US Open 2026 | © PsNewz
Alexander Zverev needed two hours and 17 minutes and never looked like being detained longer, the German top seed beating Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday night in New York to reach the US Open semifinals for the first time since 2021.
The win was Zverev’s 51st of the season and his 13th Grand Slam semifinal, and it means he has reached the last four of all four majors in a single season, something he had never done before. He is also the only Grand Slam champion left in the men’s draw, having won his first at Roland-Garros this year.
The men’s semifinals are Zverev against Khachanov and Ben Shelton against Frances Tiafoe, both on Friday.
He was brief about it. “Happy to be here. Different kind of match than two days ago, but still happy to win in straight sets and to move on.” Two days ago was Italian No. 21 seed Luciano Darderi, beaten 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (3), and before that Chilean No. 25 seed Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 7-6 (2), 6-2 and five-set wins over French player Quentin Halys 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 6-3 and Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4.
He plays Karen Khachanov on Friday, and expects a match settled from the back of the court. “The one that dominates the rallies from the baseline and is the one that is more aggressive will probably have the better outcome, for sure, because our games are quite similar. We’re two quite tall guys who try to dominate from the baseline. So whoever can do that better I think will win.”
The other semifinal is between the two Americans, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe.
The quarter final was decided on serve. Zverev landed 71% of his first serves and won 77% of the points behind them, hit eight aces and 22 winners. Van de Zandschulp got 53% of his first serves in and won 69% of those points and 38% of the rest, which against an opponent of this size and reach left him defending for most of the evening.
He was also carrying two days of fatigue: he had beaten French lucky loser Arthur Gea 3-6, 6-7, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3), 6-4 on Monday in 5 hours and 13 minutes, the fourth-longest match in US Open history, having already gone five sets against Belgian No. 31 seed Zizou Bergs 3-6, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3.
He had taken out Australian No. 6 seed Alex de Minaur 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in between, after English player Jan Choinski 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (5).
US Open 2026, men’s singles quarter finals
A. Zverev [1] d. B. Van de Zandschulp: 6-2, 7-5, 6-1
K. Khachanov d. A. Blockx [28]: 6-2, 7-5, 3-2 ret.
F. Tiafoe [11] d. A. Michelsen: 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(6)
B. Shelton [8] d. C. Alcaraz [2] : 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7)
