A number 1 performance

Alexander Zverev has once again demonstrated why he is the most in-form player on the tour right now after defeating Karen Khachanov with a score of 6-3 7-6(7) 7-6(6) to reach the 2026 US Open final. In this way, the German player reaches his third Grand Slam final of the season (he won his first major at Roland Garros), and in the process ties with Jannik Sinner as number 1 in the 2026 Race with 7,950 points.

Zverev's season began with a harsh semifinal loss at the Australian Open against a cramping Carlos Alcaraz, but glimpses of what was to come were already seen. Injuries have spared him, unlike the Spaniard and Sinner, and 'Sascha' has taken advantage of it to step up in a historic season for him. He is playing better than ever, and this Sunday he will have the chance to win another major against the winner of the clash between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. 

Zverev capitalizes on the only break point of the set

The first set unfolded with both players serving imperially, hardly conceding any errors. As for the play, when the points focused on the cross-court forehands, it was Khachanov who often took the lead. However, backhand to backhand, it was 'Sascha' who took control.

During the first 7 games, there were no break points, but at that moment Zverev upped the pace and Khachanov made more mistakes than usual (including a double fault) to concede the first break point. The German player did not fail, as he usually does, broke the Russian's serve, and closed the first set without major setbacks. Beyond a few winners, it was a bland match with no excessively long points, and amidst that atmosphere, Zverev was the more consistent player. 

Zverev takes a tie-break full of drama

Once Alexander found the cracks in Karen's serve, everything became much easier for him. In fact, right after starting the second set, he managed another break and distanced himself on the scoreboard with a 2-0. What 'Sascha' did not expect was that Khachanov would rise up in such a critical moment. The Russian elevated his level, brought the crowd to life with several points, and broke back to German to get fully back into the semifinal. From that moment on, the equality was present throughout the set until the tie-break, where it was 'Sascha' who raised the bar and became more aggressive to take a 3-1 lead with a mini-break in his favor. 

Khachanov turned the situation around and went up 4-3 with two serves to add drama to the sudden death, and he even had the set in his hands, but he faltered in a critical moment and hit two forehands into the net that gave the German a set point, which he saved with an incredible winner down the line. At that moment, he erred again with his forehand, allowing Zverev to have the first set point on serve, but he saved it again with a legendary parallel backhand passing shot. However, the third time was the charm for the German, who forced another error from the Russian after a marathon point to raise his arms towards his box and celebrate a two-set lead.

Zverev saves two set points and takes another epic tie-break

The third set was a copy of the previous ones. Few opportunities on the return and short points that ended in winners or unforced errors beyond a few exceptions. Games went by, and there were no signs of a dip in either player's service games, so everything seemed destined for another tie-break. Indeed, that was the case, and this time Khachanov stepped up to take the lead at 3-0. The Russian went all out in search of a set that would give him life, and played at his best level of the whole match to position himself with two set points. However, two fateful forehand errors sealed his fate, and it was 'Sascha' who committed to the epic to close the match and his spot in the final.

Beyond his level, which has risen as the rounds have progressed, what is most frightening about Zverev is that he no longer falters nor shrinks in important moments. When it’s time to deliver, he is more solid than ever, something that did not happen before. He warned at the beginning of 2026 that he had evolved his game and that this year he would make a splash, and time has proven him right.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Una actuación de número 1