EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAlexander Zverev's rocky road to start the US Open turned into smooth sailing to the semifinals.The No. 1 seed beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday night, putting him into the final four of every Grand Slam tournament this season.The French Open champion and Wimbledon runner-up will play against Karen Khachanov on Friday, and Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe meet in the other semifinal.Zverev became the first men's No. 1 seed to play five-set matches in each of the first two rounds of a major in the Open era, which began in 1968. But he won his past three matches in straight sets, has held serve in 31 consecutive games, and is the only player -- men's or women's -- to reach all four major semis this year.After playing more than 4 hours in each of the first two rounds, Zverev hasn't been on the court more than 2 in his last three matches. Still, he has spent 16 hours, 40 minutes on court, the most by any man en route to the semifinals at the US Open since the ATP began tracking match times in 1991."In other tournaments I would have been out in the first round but here I can fight back and play best-of-five, play 4 hours and somehow win the match and somehow get into the tournament," Zverev said. "And then I start playing better throughout the tournament and definitely happy to be in the semifinals here, but of course I want to go further."He went to the final in 2020 but blew a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem. That was the closest he would come to a major title until his victory this year at Roland Garros and the German now is 23-2 in Grand Slam matches this season."He's been in top-five for so many years," Khachanov said. "This year he did also step forward. He won his first Grand Slam, played the final in Wimbledon, as well. I mean, he's coming up really in hot form, let's say."Zverev holds a 6-3 edge in his head-to-head with Khachanov, with their lone meeting at a major coming in the 2018 French Open round of 16, which Zverev won in five sets. They also met in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics gold medal match, with Zverev prevailing in straight sets.Historically, No. 1 seeds are 22-1 in major semifinals or finals against unseeded opponents.ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
