Zverev reaches third straight Grand Slam final as Sinner-Alcaraz era faces challenge
Alexander Zverev says he believed he could outperform Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the majors this year after reaching the US Open final.
Alexander Zverev has reached his third consecutive Grand Slam final, extending a season in which he has advanced to at least the semi-finals at all four majors.
The German defeated Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-6(6) to reach the US Open final. His opponent will be either Ben Shelton or Frances Tiafoe.
Speaking after the semi-final, Zverev said he had believed such a run was possible, despite feeling that few media commentators shared that expectation.
“I believed in it, I believed that it was possible,” Zverev said, according to Yahoo Sports. “I think not many of you guys did!”
Zverev said his focus was the US Open final rather than comparisons with Sinner and Alcaraz, who had dominated men’s tennis in recent years. He won Roland Garros this year, while Sinner and Alcaraz each won one major but missed at least one tournament through injury.
His run has placed him alongside Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Sinner, Alcaraz and Andy Murray as the only ATP players since 2000 to reach at least three consecutive Grand Slam finals. Federer holds the longest streak, reaching 10 straight major finals between Wimbledon 2005 and the 2007 US Open.
