The 2026 US Open semifinals delivered elite tennis, high drama, and historic breakthroughs. Alexander Zverev had to work considerably harder than the straight-sets scoreline suggests against Karen Khachanov, while Ben Shelton finally broke through the semifinal barrier in an all-American showdown to reach his maiden Grand Slam final.
Zverev Survives Knife-Edge Sets Against Khachanov
Although the 3-0 scoreline (6-3, 7-6, 7-6) suggests routine sailing, the reality on Arthur Ashe Stadium was anything but straightforward. The German seized control early to pocket the opening set comfortably, but Khachanov elevated his game dramatically from the second set onward. The third set turned into an absolute slugfest where the Russian pushed Zverev to the limit. Khachanov held two set points in the tie-break, but Zverev delivered clutch first serves under intense pressure, erasing both threats before closing out the breaker 8-6.
Third Time’s the Charm for Shelton, More Heartbreak for Tiafoe
The all-American clash featured two players with remarkably similar semifinal track records. Frances Tiafoe reached this stage for the third time in his career (following defeats to Alcaraz in 2022 and Fritz in 2024) and once again fell short of the final hurdle. In contrast, Ben Shelton, who had also come up short in two prior major semifinals (US Open 2023 against Djokovic and Australian Open 2025 against Sinner), seized the moment.
Tiafoe made the sharper start, scoring a decisive break in the ninth game to claim the first set 6-4. From there, Shelton shifted into another gear. Firing 20 aces and producing 47 winners, the young American overpowered his compatriot to sweep the remaining three sets 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 and set up a blockbuster final against Zverev.
Match Statistics: A. Zverev vs. K. Khachanov
| Statistic | A. Zverev | K. Khachanov |
| Aces | 15 | 6 |
| Double Faults | 3 | 3 |
| 1st Serve Percentage | 63% | 62% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 79% (55/70) | 82% (51/62) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 56% (23/41) | 53% (20/38) |
| Break Points Saved | 1/2 | 1/3 |
| Break Points Converted | 2/3 | 1/2 |
| Winners | 38 | 28 |
| Unforced Errors | 34 | 36 |
| Net Points Won | 81% (21/26) | 93% (13/14) |
| Total Points Won | 51% (107/211) | 49% (104/211) |
| Distance Covered (m) | 2389 | 2373 |
Match Statistics: F. Tiafoe vs. B. Shelton
| Statistic | F. Tiafoe | B. Shelton |
| Aces | 3 | 20 |
| Double Faults | 2 | 3 |
| 1st Serve Percentage | 57% | 75% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 78% (54/69) | 77% (66/86) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 38% (20/52) | 54% (15/28) |
| Break Points Saved | 6/11 | 5/7 |
| Break Points Converted | 2/7 | 5/11 |
| Winners | 27 | 47 |
| Unforced Errors | 28 | 31 |
| Net Points Won | 70% (30/43) | 67% (16/24) |
| Total Points Won | 46% (107/235) | 54% (128/235) |
| Distance Covered (m) | 2604 | 2845 |
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