Alexander Zverev Believes He Can Win More Grand Slam Titles Than Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner After Reaching US Open Final

Alexander Zverev needs just one more win to end the season with more Grand Slam titles than Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. In the semifinals of the US Open on Friday (September 11), Zverev registered a tough 6-3, 7-6(7),7-6(6) win over Karen Khachanov.

He will be playing the final at Flushing Meadows for the second time in his career. It was in this tournament back in 2020 that Zverev reached a Grand Slam final for the first time in his career and ended up losing it in five sets after failing to capitalize on his two-sets-to-love lead against Dominic Thiem.

He failed to end two more finals in his favor, losing the 2024 French Open to Alcaraz and the 2025 Australian Open to Sinner. But then came this year’s French Open. Alcaraz withdrew, and Sinner and Novak Djokovic suffered early-round exits.

Zverev did not let this golden opportunity slip by. He reached the final and beat Flavio Cobolli in a five-set thriller, finally ending his Major title drought. If he wins this US Open, he will be adding two Major titles to his trophy cabinet, more than what Alcaraz (Australian Open) and Sinner won (Wimbledon) this season.

I believed in it. I believe that it’s possible. I think not many of you guys did. I think the question was always, is Carlos and Jannik going to play all four Grand Slam finals between each other again? Of course, a very legit question, with how the last two years went. I’m happy with how this year went so far, but I’ve got another big match on Sunday, and that’s my focus.

Alexander Zverev said at the press conference

Sinner, who has already lifted six titles, including his fifth Grand Slam trophy at Wimbledon, did not compete in the ongoing event to nurse a knee injury. It was Zverev whom Sinner beat in the Wimbledon final.

Alcaraz, on the other hand, suffered a shock five-set upset at the hands of Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals. The US Open was the seven-time Grand Slam champion’s first tournament since recovering from a wrist injury that he suffered during the Barcelona Open in mid-April.

Alexander Zverev will face Ben Shelton in the US Open final

Alexander Zverev will lock horns with first-time Grand Slam finalist Ben Shelton on Sunday (September 13). The American ace knocked out compatriot Frances Tiafoe in four sets to schedule his career’s sixth match against Zverev.

Shelton lost the previous five meetings against Zverev, but in this tournament he is in great form and has been riding high on confidence, having defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set battle that ended at 3:30 am local time.

Shelton has become the second American man to reach a Grand Slam final since Andy Roddick‘s win at the 2003 US Open, following Taylor Fritz (who lost to Jannik Sinner at the 2024 US Open). The 23-year-old, in fact, has become the first Black man since Arthur Ashe in 1972 to reach the final of the US Open.

Yeah, it’s a lot of emotion. My dad, my mom has sacrificed a lot for me to be in this position today. My dad lost his mom earlier this year, and she’s the reason that he was able to play tennis. Without her, there’s no Ben Shelton standing here today. So this one is for her. And I’m going to need you guys on Sunday to bring the energy.

Ben Shelton said during the on-court interview

Shelton will be playing the fifth final of the season. The previous four finals, in Dallas, Munich, Stuttgart, and Montreal, ended in his favor.

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