Alexander Zverev advanced to the US Open semi-finals with a decisive 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Botic van de Zandschulp during the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match took place after Zverev spent the night watching the quarter-final between Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz, which ended just minutes before 4:00 a.m. local time. This wasn’t the first time Zverev had played late into the night at the tournament—he had previously finished his opening three matches at 1:55 a.m., 2:15 a.m., and 1:09 a.m. Zverev now sets his sights on his third consecutive Grand Slam final, where he will face Karen Khachanov. Khachanov reached the semi-finals after his opponent, Alexander Blockx, retired while trailing 6-2, 7-5, 3-2. Blockx’s run in the tournament was plagued by injuries, including a blister on his foot and a back issue, which forced him to withdraw. This was not the first time Blockx had faced setbacks—earlier in the tournament, he had also dealt with a rib injury during his match against Francisco Cerundolo. This year marks the first time Zverev has reached all four Grand Slam semi-finals in a single season. He has spoken about how the more often he reaches this stage, the more it feels normal, but he cautions that this progress should not be taken for granted. Zverev ended his long wait for his first major title at this year’s French Open, where he claimed victory. Khachanov, who is unseeded at a major for the first time since 2018, acknowledged Zverev’s strong form this year. He noted that Zverev has long been in the top five players in the world and has already won a Grand Slam title. Khachanov has affectionately referred to Zverev as “The Professor” for his deep understanding of the game. In 2026, Zverev has already secured 23 singles matches at majors, the most by a German man in a single season, surpassing Boris Becker’s record of 22 from 1989.