Alexander Zverev rolls into US Open semifinals with straight-sets win

After struggling to close out matches earlier in the U.S.Open, Alexander Zverev hasn’t dropped a set against his past three opponents.The tournament’s No.

1 seed is on to the semifinals in Flushing for the first time since 2021 after defeating Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 Wednesday night under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.He’ll face Karen Khachanov next.The Russian advanced when No.

28 seed Alexander Blockx was forced to retire due to injury.In the midst of a career-best season, Zverev is gunning for his second Grand Slam title this year.The German had finished as a Slam runner-up three times before finally breaking through in June with his first major crown at Roland Garros.Following it up with a run to this year’s Wimbledon final, Zverev has now reached all four Grand Slam semifinals in a single year for the first time in his career.At 29 years and 143 days old, Zverev is the second-oldest player of all time — and the oldest in the Open Era — to achieve that feat.“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,” he said after his match.

“I think it’s a very special feeling when it becomes normality.I don’t take it for granted at all.

I know it can change in a heartbeat in tennis.I think confidence is something that is incredibly important, but also can go away quite quickly.“I found that out after Wimbledon, where I didn’t play well throughout the two tournaments on a hard courts, and then I found it again here.

Of course, I’m happy with how things are going, but I still hope to play two good matches here.”With Jannik Sinner not participating and Carlos Alcaraz bounced in the quarterfinals, the men’s bracket is wide open.Should Zverev prevail in the U.S.Open, the world No.

2 would be the first men’s singles player not named Sinner, Alcaraz, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic to win multiple Grand Slam titles in ...