A Commanding Quarter-Final Performance
Alexander Zverev made short work of Botic van de Zandschulp at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday, winning 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 to punch his ticket to the US Open semi-finals at Flushing Meadows. The dominant display was another reminder of why the 29-year-old German is considered one of the sport's most complete players at the moment. Zverev, a French Open champion chasing his second Grand Slam title, can also boast a remarkable 2026 season: he has now reached the semi-finals at all four major tournaments this year. Reflecting on that achievement, he was characteristically measured, noting that reaching that stage repeatedly becomes more familiar over time, but insisting he never takes it for granted and knows how quickly confidence in tennis can disappear.
Scheduling Controversy Overshadows the Win
Despite the convincing victory, Zverev's post-match press conference quickly turned to a topic that clearly irritated him. The US Open has scheduled his semi-final against Karen Khachanov for a 3pm start on Friday, while Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, who both played their quarter-finals on Tuesday (a day earlier than Zverev and Khachanov), will contest the night session beginning no earlier than 7pm. That means Shelton and Tiafoe receive more total rest between matches, despite having played earlier in the week. Zverev called the arrangement "a bit strange," adding he had never encountered a similar situation across 12 years on the professional tour. He acknowledged it did not play in his favor, while stopping short of demanding any change. With Khachanov standing between him and a potential Grand Slam final, Zverev will need to channel that frustration productively. TennisDraw users who backed Zverev as a deep-run contender heading into the tournament will be watching Friday's afternoon showdown closely.
