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.”

Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton were still two hours from starting the other semifinal, 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.”

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. Tiafoe and Shelton were playing to end one of those droughts and give themselves a shot at the other.

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.