Alexander Zverev booked a US Open semifinal against Karen Khachanov on Wednesday night, September 9. The top seed defeated Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 on Arthur Ashe Stadium. They will play for a place in the final on Friday, September 11.
The result means Zverev has reached the semifinals at all four Grand Slams in 2026, according to the tournament's official report.
Zverev won his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros this season and is seeking another New York final after finishing runner-up in 2020. Van de Zandschulp matched his best US Open result, a quarterfinal appearance in 2021. Wednesday was their first meeting; the Dutchman had reached the round after a five-hour, 13-minute battle with Arthur Gea.
Khachanov advanced in a match that ended during the third set. He led Alexander Blockx 6-2, 7-5, 3-2 when the Belgian retired. The score therefore includes two completed sets and an unfinished third set, with retirement bringing the contest to an end.
Blockx, 21, reported pain dating back to the previous round and changes to his movements to cope. Treatment could not keep him in the match. He described it as a lesson in the physical demands of Grand Slam tennis.
Khachanov will play his second US Open semifinal, following his 2022 run, and his third at a major, including the 2023 Australian Open. He is chasing his first final at this level. Zverev leads their head-to-head 6-3, although all three of Khachanov's victories came on hard courts, the surface used in New York.
The two embedded videos show highlights of the quarterfinal matches from the official US Open channel.
Sources: the US Open's official reports on Zverev vs. Van de Zandschulp and Khachanov vs. Blockx; Blockx's interview after retiring; the official quarterfinal preview.