Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov will meet in a compelling US Open semifinal in New York, with both players arriving there by very different routes.

Zverev, the top seed, was pushed hard early in the tournament. He needed five sets to get past Lorenzo Sonego in the opening round and then did the same against Quentin Halys. Since then, he has looked more secure, winning in straight sets against Luciano Darderi, Alejandro Tabilo and Botic van de Zandschulp.

Khachanov has been steadier across his run at Flushing Meadows. The Russian has lost only three sets in his first five matches, with victories over Roman Andres Burruchaga, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Benjamin Bonzi, Learner Tien and Alexander Blockx. Among this year’s semifinalists, he has dropped the fewest games.

The head-to-head gives Zverev the lead, though the margin is not as wide as some may expect. The pair have faced each other nine times since their first meeting in 2016, with Zverev holding a 6-3 advantage.

Their only Grand Slam meeting came at Roland Garros in 2018, when Zverev won in five sets in the round of 16. Khachanov’s three victories over Zverev have all come on hard courts, including wins at the Canadian Open in 2019 and 2025, and at the Paris Masters in 2018.

Zverev’s victories in the matchup have also largely come on hard courts, apart from Roland Garros. He has beaten Khachanov in Cincinnati, Miami and in their first meeting in St Petersburg in 2016.

One of Zverev’s most significant career achievements also came against Khachanov. He beat him in the final of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 to win gold for his country, a result that stood out strongly before he won the Roland Garros title earlier this year.

The semifinal will open play on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday, 11th September’s order of play, before Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton meet in the all-American semifinal.

Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz delivered one of the standout matches of the US Open quarter-finals, with the American advancing to the last four at his home Grand Slam.

Their contest was a high-quality five-set battle that needed a deciding tie-break and did not end until after 3:30am. Coming only days after new Australian Open chief Andrew Abdo suggested the Melbourne major could one day move away from best-of-five-set matches, the timing of this match added extra weight to the discussion.

The meeting offered a strong argument for the format’s staying power. Feliciano Lopez, who was covering the match for Spanish television, made his view clear on social media: “One small reflection on the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton. Long live the five sets.

“It’s a shame that one has to lose, tennis is cruel but fascinating at the same time. Carlitos is healthy! Thanks to all the brave souls who joined us this past early morning.”

Shelton now turns his attention to a semi-final against compatriot Frances Tiafoe on Friday, 11 September on Arthur Ashe. It will be their fourth competitive meeting, with Shelton holding a 3-1 lead in the head-to-head. Tiafoe’s only win over Shelton came at the US Open in 2024, when he beat him in a five-set match in the round of 32.

Alcaraz, meanwhile, will not return to action for around two weeks. His next event is the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena in London from September 25th to 27th, where he is set to represent Yannick Noah’s Team Europe again after appearing in 2024 and 2025.

Shelton is also scheduled for the Laver Cup, where he will play for Andre Agassi’s Team World. After that, both players are due at the Japan Open from September 30th to October 6th. Alcaraz is the defending champion after defeating Fritz in the 2025 final, while Shelton has not played the event since 2024.

Alexander Zverev’s standout 2026 season has carried into the US Open, where he has again moved deep into a Grand Slam draw.

The German finally captured his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, and a month later he followed that breakthrough by reaching his first Wimbledon final. In New York, he arrived as the top seed after Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal and has largely justified that status, despite being pushed in the opening rounds.

Zverev required five sets to get past Lorenzo Sonego and Quentin Halys, but he has since sharpened his form. His last three matches have all ended in straight sets, a run that has taken him into the semifinals of the tournament.

That result has also placed him in a notably small group. Zverev has now reached at least the semifinals of every Grand Slam in 2026, matching a feat achieved by only eight other men in the Open Era. The list includes Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, as well as Jannik Sinner and Andy Murray.

For perspective, it is a milestone even Carlos Alcaraz has not yet managed. Despite his seven Grand Slam titles, Alcaraz has never produced a semifinal-or-better run at all four majors in the same calendar year. His closest attempt came in 2025, when he won Roland Garros and the US Open and reached the Wimbledon final, but fell in the Australian Open quarterfinals.

Zverev now turns to Karen Khachanov in the semifinals, where he will be expected to start as the favorite. He leads their head-to-head 6-3 and sits 24 places above him in the ATP Tour live rankings.

If he gets through that match, Zverev will face either Ben Shelton or Frances Tiafoe. He also holds strong records against both, leading Shelton 5-0 and Tiafoe 9-1.