Alexander Zverev took another big step towards a second Grand Slam title by beating Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 to reach the US Open semifinals, where the German will take on Karen Khachanov. The 29-year-old French Open champion got off to a slow start in his campaign at Flushing Meadows but has steadily found his range to enter the last four on Wednesday.
Performance and Reflection
Reflecting on his progression, Zverev acknowledged his initial struggles. “I think you saw in the first two rounds, I really didn’t play well,” Zverev said. “In other tournaments I would be out in the first round, but here I can fight back and play best of five sets, play four-and-a-half hours. I’ve started playing better throughout the tournament, and I’m definitely happy to be in the semifinals here.” The German has reached the semifinals at all four majors this year and remains the only Grand Slam winner left in the men’s draw.
Match Dynamics and Records
- Zverev was far from steady on serve early at Arthur Ashe Stadium, committing five double faults, but capitalized on van de Zandschulp’s forehand errors to secure the first set.
- Van de Zandschulp challenged in the second set, but Zverev absorbed the pressure and won three consecutive games to shift the momentum.
- Zverev, the 2020 runner-up, fired an overhead smash to break early in the third set and cruised home to reach his third semifinal in New York.
- With 23 Grand Slam match wins this year, Zverev surpassed Boris Becker’s German men’s record of 22 set in 1989.
- He next faces Russian Karen Khachanov in a rematch of their gold medal showdown at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Regarding his mindset, Zverev emphasized humility. “I don’t take it for granted at all,” Zverev said. “I know it can change in a heartbeat in tennis. I think confidence is something that is incredibly important but also can go away quite quickly.” By maintaining his focus, the top seed has positioned himself as the favorite to claim the title at Flushing Meadows.
