Same height, similar age, vastly different paths: Zverev and Khachanov watch the US Open final

Alexander Zverev (right) and Karen Khachanov (Photo Reuters) NEW YORK CITY: They are the same height, almost the same age and have a long way to go, both knocking on the door of Grand Slam success for years. At 6ft 6′ tall, little separates Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov physically when they meet in the semi-finals of the US Open on Friday. But the German comes in as the top seed, Olympic gold medalist and now major champion, while Khachanov, world number 50, is chasing a first Slam final.Twenty-nine-year-old Zverev has already been here. He reached the 2020 US Open final and came within two points of the title before Dominic Thiem turned the match in a five-set battle. Almost four years later, he reached the final at Roland Garros and followed it up with another Grand Slam final at Melbourne Park in 2025, but was still waiting for his first crown. The lanky German finally turned the tables on Paris in June to claim his first Slam title before reaching the Wimbledon final again.The top seed secured a place in the last four with a commanding 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Botic van de Zandschulp. It is his 13th Grand Slam semifinal, second among active men after Novak Djokovic’s 55, and his 51st match win of the season, most on the ATP Tour.The first of Friday’s final four bouts will be an all-American affair, with world number nine Ben Shelton, the downer of Carlos Alcaraz, taking on 12th-ranked Frances Tiafoe, with Shelton leading 3-1. Both men are looking to reach their first major final.For Chačanov, the journey back to the last four was significantly more arduous. The 30-year-old arrived in New York ranked 50th after going 16-18 through the first eight months of the season, his lowest ranking since May 2017. He has since defeated American Learner Tien in five sets to reach the semifinals when Alexander Blockx withdrew with an upper-body injury, trailing 6-2, 7-5, 3-3It is the Russian’s third Grand Slam semi-final and his second in New York, having reached the last four in 2022. He also reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2023. However, the next step remained in sight.“Every Grand Slam, every big scene you want to do well. We dreamed of that as kids, you know, to play in the next stages of this event, that one day it might come,” said Khačanov. “So I think it’s a bit of a moment of appreciation and at the same time ambition and motivation for what’s to come.”What comes next is the opponent who has the upper hand over the years.Zverev leads their head-to-head 6-3, including a win over Khachanov in the gold medal match at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. However, Khachanov defeated him in Canada last year, a victory that came after several defeats to the German.“He is where he is because he deserves to be there,” Khachanov said. “He’s been in the top 5 for so many years. He also took a step forward this year. He won his first Grand Slam. He’s in hot form.”The numbers tell only part of the story. Both men can generate tremendous pace from the baseline, both have formidable serves, and neither is likely to back down easily. Khachanov knows that patience will be as important as strength against Zverev.“I’ll have to come up with the best form,” he said. “I’ll have to be patient.Zverev and Khačanov go way back to their junior days.“People don’t see it from the outside, but he’s someone who works extremely hard. He’s on the practice courts more than most people. He’s always looking for solutions. He’s always, you know, trying to find new ways to improve,” Zverev said of Khachanov, one of the most beloved characters in the locker room. “I have a lot of respect for him. I hope it’s a big fight.”For Zverev, the prize is another chance to finish what he started six years ago in New York. For Khačanov, it is an opportunity to reach the Grand Slam final for the first time.Meanwhile, in the second round of the girls’ doubles, Maaya and Antonina Sushkova of Ukraine upset the fifth seeded combination, Jana Kováčková and Kateřina Zajíčková of the Czech Republic 2-6, 6-2, 10-7.