Zverev reaches US Open semifinals, Khachanov advances after Blockx retires

Alexander Zverev's difficult start to the US Open has given way to a dominant run, with the top seed reaching the semifinals after beating Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets on Wednesday.

The French Open champion defeated the Dutchman 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 to become the only man to reach the semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments this season.

Zverev, who was also the Wimbledon runner-up, will face Karen Khachanov on Friday. The other semifinal will feature Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe.

Zverev's path to the last four has been unusual. He became the first men's No. 1 seed in the Open era to play five-set matches in each of his first two rounds at a Grand Slam. But he has since won three consecutive matches in straight sets.

After spending more than 4 1/2 hours on court in each of his opening two matches, Zverev has not needed more than 2 1/2 hours in any of his last three.

“In other tournaments I would have been out in the first round but here I can fight back and play best-of-five, play 4 1/2 hours and somehow win the match and somehow get into the tournament,” Zverev said.

“And then I start playing better throughout the tournament and definitely happy to be in the semifinals here, but of course I want to go further.”

Zverev reached the US Open final in 2020 but squandered a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem. His first Grand Slam title came this year at Roland Garros, and he is now 23-2 in major matches in 2026.

“He's been in top-five for so many years,” Khachanov said of Zverev. “This year he did also step forward. He won his first Grand Slam, played the final in Wimbledon, as well. I mean, he's coming up really in hot form, let's say.”

Khachanov earned his place in the semifinals after Alexander Blockx retired in the third set because of injuries to his leg, ribs and back.

The No. 28-seeded Belgian stopped after Khachanov broke his serve to take a 3-2 lead in the third set. Khachanov had won the opening two sets 6-2, 7-5.

“I think my body just gave up,” Blockx said.

Khachanov said he had expected a difficult contest but noticed his opponent struggling physically as the match progressed.

“I was preparing really, really well for that matchup. It's not easy really to play because from one side I was feeling I was dominating from the beginning, then I started to feel like he was struggling more and more,” he said, adding that Blockx appeared to be “suffering all over his body.”

The victory puts Khachanov into his third Grand Slam semifinal. He previously reached the last four at the US Open in 2022 and the Australian Open in 2023, but is still searching for his first major final.

The Russian was unseeded at a Grand Slam for the first time since 2018 following an inconsistent season. Despite reaching at least the third round at all four majors for the first time, he entered New York with a 10-15 record in other tournaments and had lost in the opening round of all three hard-court events before the US Open.

Blockx said he had nearly stopped during his previous match because of his injuries. After receiving treatment on several parts of his body Wednesday, he said he was neither upset nor angry about retiring.

“To be honest, during the match, it was quite funny to me. I just had to laugh it off, because it was just something new the whole time,” he said.

“I think it was just my body that started compensating as well. I was starting to do different motions than I usually do just to avoid the pain.”