Alexander Zverev continued his remarkable run at the US Open by defeating Karen Khachanov in a tightly contested match, securing his place in a third consecutive Grand Slam final. The top-seeded German won 6-3, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (8-6) in a grueling three-hour battle on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Zverev, who captured his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in June, is now aiming for his second major trophy of the year. He had previously lost the Wimbledon final to world number one Jannik Sinner in July, and now faces a showdown in New York with either eighth seed Ben Shelton or 11th seed Frances Tiafoe, who are set to play each other in the semi-final on Friday night. Zverev has had a consistent season, reaching all four Grand Slam semi-finals despite the absence of top players like Sinner and defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, who have both dealt with injuries. Though he started the US Open slowly, losing the first two matches in five sets, he has not dropped a set since then. Against Khachanov, a former top-10 player now ranked 50th, Zverev faced moments of pressure but remained composed, saving two set points in the third set. His performance improved significantly from his early struggles in the tournament, a fact he acknowledged with humor after a poor second-round match that ended late at night. The match was defined by intense rallies and crucial moments. In the second set, Khachanov fought back after being a break down, forcing a tie-break where he saved a set point with a stunning backhand. However, Zverev responded by taking the initiative and converting a set point in a long rally. The third set followed a similar pattern, with both players holding serve and eventually reaching another tie-break. Zverev saved two set points and then clinched the match with a deep forehand from Khachanov. Zverev’s journey to the final has been marked by endurance, as he spent a record 16 hours and 40 minutes on court in the tournament so far. He now has the chance to win his first US Open title, a goal he has been chasing since a heartbreaking five-set loss to Dominic Thiem in 2020. As he prepares for Sunday’s final, Zverev expressed his excitement, noting that his performance has improved significantly since the early rounds. "I was playing better tennis," he said, "obviously I’ve been improving otherwise I wouldn’t be in the final."