Alexander Zverev Defeats Botic van de Zandschulp in Straight Sets to Reach US Open Semifinals
Alexander Zverev has carried on his outstanding form at the 2026 US Open, winning against Botic van de Zandschulp in three sets and thus securing his spot in the semifinals at Flushing Meadows.
The top seed from Germany gave a dominant display at Arthur Ashe Stadium, beating the Dutch player 6–2, 7–5, 6–1. Even though Zverev wasn't flawless from the very first point, he demonstrated the composure, physical strength and mental resilience needed to secure a victory in a Grand Slam quarterfinal without letting the match become a prolonged struggle.
For the 29-year-old, this win represents another important achievement in what has been a remarkable season. He has now made it to the semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments in 2026, showing off a high degree of consistency at the top level of men's tennis.
Zverev Continues His Strong US Open Campaign
When Zverev arrived in New York he had high expectations. Since he was one of the top players in the men's draw, it was expected that he would contest the championship, but his first matches were by no means simple.
After winning his quarterfinal match, the German acknowledged that he had experienced difficulties in the early part of the tournament; yet rather than let these problems affect his confidence, he eventually settled into a better rhythm and gained greater control.
You could see that improvement in the match against van de Zandschulp.
Zverev matched his powerful serve with strong groundstrokes and excellent movement around the baseline; each time the Dutchman seemed to be gaining momentum, Zverev was able to react and take back control.
It was especially impressive since van de Zandschulp had already given trouble to a number of his opponents during his time in New York.
Van de Zandschulp Starts With Confidence
The Dutchman went into the quarterfinals with confidence since he had produced one of the stand-out sequences of the tournament.
Van de Zandschulp had already beaten Australia's Alex de Minaur in the tournament, winning their match in three sets. He also managed to go through a dramatic five-set match against Arthur Gea in the fourth round.
The fact that those performances showed the Dutch player to have the physical ability and a competitive mindset capable of challenging higher-ranked opponents.
The situation was, however, entirely different when he played against Zverev.
It was difficult for van de Zandschulp to discover comfortable chances to launch attacks because of Zverev's mix of height, power and court coverage. Each time the Dutchman tried to control the rallies, Zverev usually replied with strong shots driven deep.
Eventually the German gained control of the first set.
Zverev Takes Control of the First Set
The first set was won 6–2 by Zverev, which gave the top seed an early advantage.
It is interesting that, at the start of the match, Zverev was by no means faultless on his serves since he committed a number of double faults and seemed a bit uncomfortable in the early service games.
But van de Zandschulp could not make the most of it.
The mistakes that the Dutchman made with his forehand gave Zverev chances, and the German then started to take control of the rallies. After Zverev had got into his stride, his strong baseline game became very hard to contain.
The first set gave Zverev confidence. It put pressure on van de Zandschulp to respond.
Second Set Provides the Biggest Challenge
The second section was probably the most important part of the match.
Van de Zandschulp increased his level and would not let Zverev win the contest. Throughout the set the Dutchman remained competitive and actually created a real chance to level the match.
At 5-4, van de Zandschulp served for the set and even had a set point.
For a moment the match seemed capable of changing direction.
Zverev, however, remained calm.
Rather than getting frustrated, he took in the pressure and managed to regain his position. The German then served one of his finest periods of play in the match, winning three games in a row to make it 7–5 in the second set.
That moment actually altered the course of the match.
If van de Zandschulp had won the second set, the match might have taken on a completely different physical and mental character. As it was, Zverev entered the third set with a two-set lead.
Zverev Dominates the Third Set
When Zverev had won the second set, the Dutchman's resistance started to disappear.
In the third set the German at once put pressure on the match. Since the set was broken early, Zverev gained the upper hand and from then on seemed to be more at ease.
Van de Zandschulp had difficulty in attaining the consistency which had kept him competitive earlier in the match.
Zverev kept attacking from the baseline and used his serve to maintain his advantage. His confidence increased as each game went on.
The last set was concluded with a score of 6–1, which gave Zverev a straight-sets win and earned him a place in another US Open semifinal.
The score also indicated the way in which Zverev handled the match following the biggest test he had to face in the second set.
Another Important Grand Slam Milestone
The importance of the victory goes beyond just making it to the final four in New York.
Zverev has now made it to the semifinals at all four of the Grand Slam tournaments in 2026.
That is a great achievement and shows the consistency with which he has carried out his performance all during the season.
The German had won the French Open to become champion when the tournament started this year.
He also made it to the Wimbledon final, which gave him several deep runs at the major tournaments during the season.
Zverev has now become one of the most consistent players at the Grand Slam events in 2026 as a result of his most recent win in New York.
Zverev Breaks a German Grand Slam Record
This quarterfinal win also created a historic statistic.
As Reuters reports, this win was Zverev's 23rd victory in Grand Slam matches during the 2026 season, which has now seen him exceed Boris Becker's previous record for German men of 22 Grand Slam match wins in a year, a record that Becker set in 1989.
This accomplishment brings yet one more dimension to Zverev's outstanding season.
Becker is still one of the most well-known tennis players from Germany, which makes the record especially significant for Zverev.
The German has now achieved a combination of consistency, endurance and greater confidence, producing one of the strongest seasons of his career.
A Different Zverev From Earlier in the Tournament
One of the most interesting parts of Zverev's campaign at the US Open has been the way in which he has been getting better.
He admitted that he had not played his best tennis in the first two rounds since some of the matches were physically demanding and he had to spend a great deal of time on the court.
Rather than let those difficult moments throw his campaign into disarray, Zverev turned them into opportunities to build his confidence.
His later performances have become more and more convincing.
When playing against van de Zandschulp, Zverev proved that he is able to win even if his serving is not perfect; he also showed patience in the second set when his opponent had the opportunity to equalise.
The kind of qualities in question could prove to be very important during the semifinals.
Khachanov Awaits in the Semifinal
Zverev will face Karen Khachanov next.
Alexander Blockx retired while being behind 6–2, 7–5, 3–2, thus allowing the Russian to reach the semifinals. Khachanov will therefore have to play against Zverev in order to secure a spot in the US Open final.
The semifinal will feature an interesting storyline since Zverev and Khachanov have already experienced an important event in the history of tennis.
Zverev won the gold medal in the men's singles final against the other player at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Their next encounter at the US Open thus forms another chapter in their rivalry.
Zverev will start the match on the back of a straight-sets victory in the quarterfinals, while Khachanov is determined to make the most of his chance.
What makes Zverev a serious contender for the title?
The main asset of Zverev is the way in which he combines his serving with his play from the baseline.
When he is at his best, his first serve gives his opponents very few chances to attack; because of his height he is able to generate a great deal of power, and his groundstrokes can drive his opponents deep behind the baseline.
His progress over the last few months has also been concerned with mentality.
For many years Zverev was regarded as one of the finest players who had no Grand Slam title; that situation changed when he won the French Open this season.
It seems that securing that first major title has reinforced his belief.
He has now learnt what effort is required to cope with the pressure of the last stages of a Grand Slam tournament.
The US Open gives him one more chance of earning a second major title for his portfolio.
A Huge Opportunity in New York
Earlier at the US Open Zverev got to the final in 2020, where he was on the point of winning his first Grand Slam title before Dominic Thiem pulled off a dramatic comeback.
Five years later Zverev has reached the final rounds of the tournament with a great deal more experience.
He also got to the semifinals of the US Open in 2021, so his most recent entry was his third time reaching the tournament's final four.
This time the difference is that Zverev is a Grand Slam champion.
The value of that experience could be seen when the pressure reaches a high level.
To win the US Open trophy, the German will now have to win two additional matches.
Final Thoughts
Alexander Zverev's win against Botic van de Zandschulp was not just a standard quarterfinal victory.
The score of 6–2, 7–5 and 6–1 shows that Zverev was able to take the lead, survive a dangerous situation and finish in a strong manner.
Van de Zandschulp took his chance in the second set, but it was Zverev's ability to save the situation that proved to be crucial.
The German will now be playing against Karen Khachanov in the semifinals, knowing that a spot in another Grand Slam final is still within reach.
This year, since he has already won the French Open title and has reached the semi-finals at all four Grand Slam tournaments, Zverev has had one of the most impressive seasons of his career.
The main issue at the moment is if he will be able to convert his consistency into another Grand Slam title.
For Zverev, his dream of winning the US Open is still very much alive.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.Did Alexander Zverev beat Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets?
Yes. Zverev defeated van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 in the 2026 US Open quarterfinals.
2. Who will Alexander Zverev face in the US Open semi-final?
In the semifinal Zverev will play against Karen Khachanov, who reached the stage after Alexander Blockx retired in their quarterfinal match.
3. What is the number of Grand Slam semifinals that Zverev has reached in 2026?
Zverev achieved a remarkable feat in 2026 by reaching the semifinals at all of the Grand Slam tournaments.
4. Has Alexander Zverev won a Grand Slam?
Yes, Zverev won his first Grand Slam title at the 2026 French Open and is the only Grand Slam champion still in the men's US Open draw.
5. How many semifinals at the US Open has Zverev gotten to?
Zverev has already played in three semifinals at the US Open, the most recent of which was in 2026; he also made it to the final four in 2020 and 2021.
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