Alexander Zverev, Another Dig at Jannik Sinner? “Everything Can Change in the Blink of an Eye”

Alexander Zverev, ranked No. 2 in the world and the top seed at the U.S. Open in the absence of Jannik Sinner, has secured his spot in the semifinals. The German handily defeated Botic Van de Zandschulp, ranked No. 70 in the ATP, in the quarterfinals, winning 6-2, 7-5, 6-1.

After the match, Zverev reflected on his run at the U.S. Open. His tournament had started with some difficulties, so much so that he needed five sets to eliminate first Lorenzo Sonego and then Quentin Halys. From that point on, however, the German shifted into high gear, racking up three consecutive victories without dropping a single set.

“I think you could see it in the first two rounds—I really didn’t play well,” Zverev said. “In other tournaments, I would have been eliminated in the first round, but here I can fight and play best-of-five-set matches, playing for four and a half hours. I started playing better as the tournament went on, and I’m really happy to be in the semifinals.”

Zverev’s run at the U.S. Open highlights a particularly significant achievement. This season, the German has managed to reach at least the semifinals in all four Grand Slam tournaments. After reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open, he won the French Open and subsequently made it to the final at Wimbledon.

This top-tier performance, however, doesn’t make Zverev feel secure. “But I don’t take any of this for granted,” he emphasized. “I know that in tennis, everything can change in the blink of an eye (a jinx for Jannik Sinner?). I think confidence is incredibly important, but it can also disappear very quickly.”

The world No. 2 is also the only player still in contention in the men’s draw who has already won a Grand Slam title. He’ll face Karen Khachanov in the semifinals. The Russian advanced after Belgian Alexander Blockx retired while Khachanov was leading 6-2, 7-5, 3-2.