Zverev reaches US Open final with straight-sets win over Khachanov

Alexander Zverev advanced to the US Open final on Friday, defeating Karen Khachanov in straight sets to reach his third consecutive Grand Slam championship match. The top-seeded German won 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-6(6) in a semifinal that featured two intense tiebreaks and a brief disruption over sunlight glare. The victory sends Zverev to his second US Open final, where he will face the winner of the all-American semifinal between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe on Sunday. The 29-year-old is the only Grand Slam champion remaining in the draw and is seeking a second major title of 2026 after winning the French Open in June. The match was more competitive than the straight-sets scoreline suggests. Khachanov, ranked 50th and unseeded, pushed Zverev to tiebreaks in both the second and third sets. In the third set, Khachanov held two set points at 6-4 in the tiebreak but sent forehands long on both opportunities, allowing Zverev to seize control. During the third set, Zverev complained to the umpire about sunlight glare from opened suite doors, which he said affected his vision. The disruption appeared to momentarily impact his play, as Khachanov capitalized to force the tiebreak.