Key events<\/p>\n
Khachanov wins the toss and chooses to receive first against Zverev\u2019s thundering serve. The chair umpire is France\u2019s Damien Dumusois.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Karen Khachanov emerges from the tunnel first, followed by Alexander Zverev<\/a>. Apparently the German was a minute or two late because he needed some extra time in the toilet \u2013 we\u2019ve all been there.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On Arthur Ashe Stadium, a retired servicewoman sings the American national anthem before the players come out. Flags are flying at half mast around the grounds today on the 25th anniversary of the 9\/11 attacks. Arthur Ashe was also lit up blue from dusk until dawn this morning.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Zverev v Khachanov could of course go on beyond that 7pm timing \u2013 that is the nature of five-set tennis. The incoming Tennis<\/a> Australia CEO, Andrew Abdo, suggested last month that tennis should rethink it\u2019s best-of-five format for men\u2019s grand slam matches to attract a younger audience.<\/p>\n Andrew Lawrence has, thankfully for us, launched to the defence of longer epics \u2026<\/p>\n double quotation markIn tennis, a match that stretches on for hours and hours isn\u2019t a drag. It\u2019s an obvious marker of quality, an implied reason to tune in. And if engagement is the name of the game, the drama of a fifth act that holds the potential to maintain an audience, capture a new one and \u2013 in the case of the Shelton-Alcaraz quarter \u2013 extend the primetime viewing window on the West Coast should be an incentive for those committed to growing the game to embrace the five-setter even tighter, not abolish it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A reminder that the other semi-final between Francis Tiafoe and Ben Shelton is due to start after the conclusion of this one at around 7pm local time, midnight in the UK.<\/p>\n Tumaini Carayol has set the scene for a primetime all-American match-up \u2026<\/p>\n double quotation markAs Americans at the US Open, two players who have spent their careers being reminded of how far American men\u2019s tennis has fallen since its decades of dominance over the sport, and particularly of Andy Roddick\u2019s triumph at the 2003 US Open, the last time an American man won a title here, the significance of this moment is doubly important to Tiafoe and Shelton. Unlike in their previous runs, there are no multiple grand-slam champions or all-time greats left in the draw, with the earlier semi-final featuring top seed Alexander Zverev against former top-10 player Karen Khachanov. All four can win this title.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThere are people that you don\u2019t see from the outside, but I think he\u2019s somebody that works extremely hard,\u201d were Zverev\u2019s words about Khachanov during his press conference yesterday.<\/p>\n double quotation markHe\u2019s on the practice courts more than most people. He\u2019s always searching for solutions. He\u2019s always trying to find new ways to get better. He has a great coach who I\u2019ve known also since juniors. He\u2019s been with him since juniors. That I respect a lot when people go together for a long time and go together a long way.<\/p>\n That \u201cgreat coach\u201d is Vedran Martic, who is a bit of a tennis nerd, reckons Zverev:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe call him \u2018The Professor\u2019 because he knows everything about tennis, and he knows every single string tension, knows what everybody does, so that\u2019s quite fun.<\/p>\n Yes, it sounds \u201cquite fun\u201d \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Zverev leads the career head-to-head 6-3 against Khachanov. They faced each other twice during the North American swing last year, with Khachanov winning in the Canadian Open semis but retiring in the fourth round at Cincinnati. Their only grand slam meeting was at the 2018 French Open, when Zverev won in five sets in the fourth round.<\/p>\n Khachanov said yesterday \u2026<\/p>\n double quotation markWe had some great matches. He\u2019s leading the head-to-head, I think, 6-3 if I\u2019m right, tough battles. Last year I won in Canada, which was a very important one after a few defeats that I had against him.<\/p>\n Zverev said \u2026<\/p>\n double quotation markHe\u2019s a great guy. I\u2019ve known him for many, many years, somebody that I grew up with playing junior tournaments. Again, I have massive respect for him. I hope it\u2019s going to be a great battle on Friday.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Karen Khachanov is in his first grand slam semi-final for three and a half years. The Russian started this year with a record of 16-18 but his form over the past couple of weeks will lift him higher than his current world ranking of No 50. Alexander Blockx, who retired injured during the third set of their quarter-final on Thursday, was the third seed Khachanov has knocked out so far.<\/p>\n Run to 2026 semis<\/p>\n First round: Beat Rom\u00e1n Andr\u00e9s Burruchaga 6-3 6-0 6-1<\/p>\n Second round: Beat Felix Auger-Aliassime (3rd seed) 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-2 6-2<\/p>\n Third round: Beat Benjamin Bonzi 6-3 6-2 6-4<\/p>\n Fourth round: Beat Learner Tien (14) 7-5 4-6 6-7(6) 6-1 6-4<\/p>\n Quarter-final: Beat Alexander Blockx (28) 6-2 7-5 3-2 ret<\/p>\n On facing Zverev, Khachanov said yesterday \u2026<\/p>\n double quotation markI will have to come up with the best form. I will have to have patience, to take control in the middle, to dictate, but not to rush. You know, to build the point in the right way, and then whenever I see and I feel the chance \u2026 At some point you have to make the difference. And obviously serve, return. He has a big, big first serve, great return. So I have to be focused on that as well.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alexander Zverev is aiming to reach his third grand slam final in a row after winning at Roland Garros and finishing runner-up at Wimbledon. But this would be his first US Open final in six years, when he lost to Dominic Thiem with nobody in attendance during the Covid pandemic. Last year, the German was beaten in the third round by Felix Auger-Aliassime.<\/p>\n Run to the 2026 semis<\/p>\n First round: Beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 3-6 6-7(7) 7-5 6-4<\/p>\n Second round: Beat Quentin Halys 6-4 4-6 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 6-3<\/p>\n Third round: Beat Alejandro Tobillo (25th seed) 6-2 7-6(2) 6-2<\/p>\n Fourth round: Beat Luciano Darderi (21) 6-2 6-2 7-6(3)<\/p>\n Quarter-final: Beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2 7-5 6-1<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Siniakova and Townsend win US Open women’s doubles<\/p>\n Before we get into the buildup for the men\u2019s singles, Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend have just been crowned women\u2019s doubles champions at Flushing Meadows after coming back to beat Robin Montgomery and Ashlyn Krueger 5-7 6-0 6-2 in the final on Arthur Ashe.<\/p>\n The No 1 seeds have completed the career grand slam after winning Wimbledon in 2024, the Australian Open in 2025 and the French Open earlier this year.<\/p>\n Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend of the U.S. Photograph: Eduardo Mu\u00f1oz\/ReutersSiniakova and Townsend complete the set. Photograph: Eduardo Mu\u00f1oz\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.40 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n It has been smooth sailing for Alexander Zverev<\/a> for the past few days at the US Open. The No 1 seed had to fight his way through two five-setters to start the tournament but hasn\u2019t dropped a set since, easing through to the verge of his third grand slam final in succession. The unseeded Karen Khachanov was out of sorts earlier this year, dropping to No 50 in the world, but has found real consistency in the last fortnight. He returns to this stage for the first time since the 2022 semis and could today reach his first grand slam final.<\/p>\n These two will be happy to head out on Arthur Ashe Stadium nice and early, giving them a bit of an advantage over Francis Tiafoe and Ben Shelton, who follow in tonight\u2019s American primetime slot, ahead of Sunday\u2019s final. It is a poignant day in New York on the 25th anniversary of 9\/11 and Flushing Meadows will pay tribute to the victims of the attacks.<\/p>\n Zverev and Khachanov are due on court at 3pm local time, 8pm BST. Be sure to get in touch<\/a> with any predictions, comments or questions. I will be here for the duration.<\/p>\n