Home · Sports · Sep 10 archive
Zverev storms into semi-finals despite late bedtime
Confirmed
In Short: Following his victory over Botic van de Zandschulp, Alexander Zverev booked his place in the US Open semi-finals, marking his third appearance in the final four at this tournament.
Following his victory over Botic van de Zandschulp, Alexander Zverev booked his place in the US Open semi-finals, marking his third appearance in the final four at this tournament. Zverev revealed he stayed up until 3:30am to watch Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz's quarter-final match, which set a late finish record for the tournament.
Zverev will face Russian Karen Khachanov, who advanced after Alexander Blockx retired trailing 6-2, 7-5, 3-2. Khachanov, known as 'The Professor' for his deep knowledge of the game, will challenge Zverev to his 'best form' to reach his third Grand Slam final.
The German has had a challenging journey to the semi-finals, taking five sets in his first two matches and conceding 80 games, the second most of any top seed this year. Zverev is now the favorite to win the title after Rafael Nadal's exit, though it has taken time for him to reach his best level in New York.
What's confirmed
- Following his victory over Botic van de Zandschulp, Alexander Zverev booked his place in the US Open semi-finals, marking his third appearance in the final four at this tournament. Zverev revealed he stayed up until 3:30am to watch Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz's quarter-final match, which set a late finish record for the tournament.
- Zverev will face Russian Karen Khachanov, who advanced after Alexander Blockx retired trailing 6-2, 7-5, 3-2. Khachanov, known as 'The Professor' for his deep knowledge of the game, will challenge Zverev to his 'best form' to reach his third Grand Slam final.
- The German has had a challenging journey to the semi-finals, taking five sets in his first two matches and conceding 80 games, the second most of any top seed this year. Zverev is now the favorite to win the title after Rafael Nadal's exit, though it has taken time for him to reach his best level in New York.
What's still developing
- "I watched Shelton-Alcaraz until 3.30am last night," Zverev said.
- "I think the more often that you get to that stage, the more normal it becomes, which is something that you should never take for granted," said Zverev, who ended his wait for a maiden major at this year's French Open.
- "I think you saw in the first two rounds, I really didn't play well," Zverev said.
- "We call him [Khachanov] 'The Professor', actually, because he knows everything about tennis, and he knows every single string tension, knows what everybody does, so that's quite fun," Zverev said.
- "I did not go to bed, I was up late, I was watching TV because I was sleeping in until 1pm anyway." The 29-year-old has had plenty of his own late-night finishes at this year's tournament, with his opening three matches ending at 1:55am, 2:15am and 1:09am.
- "I think it's a very special feeling when it becomes normality." Gauff saves match points to set up Rybakina semi-final 'Just a number' - Rybakina's rise to world number one Hewett and Reid into last eight of US Open singles Zverev is the favourite to win the title following Alcaraz's exit, although it has taken time to reach his best level in New York.
- According to the ATP, Zverev has also become only the ninth different men's player in the Open Era to reach the semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments in a single season.
- Zverev was particularly effective in the crucial moments of the second set, where van de Zandschulp threatened to make a comeback.