Tennis-Zverev goes from ‘pointless’ start to US Open final

By Janina Nuno Rios

NEW YORK, Sept 11 (Reuters) – Alexander Zverev went from wondering whether his U.S. Open campaign was “pointless” to preparing for a second final at Flushing Meadows on Friday, as his ​dramatic turnaround had given him a chance to win a ‌second Grand Slam title.

The German had been pushed to dramatic five sets in each of his first two rounds but has since won four consecutive matches without dropping a set, putting himself one victory away from a second major title after a 6-3 ‌7-6(7) ​7-6(6) win over Karen Khachanov.

“I really started off ⁠the tournament, and I ⁠was like, ‘Well, this is pointless because I’m not going to do anything here,’ and here I am sitting and preparing for a Sunday final,” Zverev told reporters.

The turnaround marks a stark contrast with his first ​U.S. Open final in 2020, when Zverev also struggled for consistency but still came within two points of beating Dominic Thiem for his ⁠maiden Grand Slam title.

“I didn’t play well ⁠that entire tournament. That never changed, funny enough, and I ​made it to the final, and I was two points away from ​winning,” Zverev said.

Six years on, the top seed said he was ‌a different player, having gained experience through a string of major finals and, crucially, finally winning his long-awaited Grand Slam crown at this year’s Roland Garros.

“I was inexperienced. I was still a young guy,” he said of ⁠2020. “Everything is different.”

Zverev will now face an American in a sold-out Arthur Ashe Stadium, either Frances Tiafoe or Ben Shelton.

The setting could hardly be more different ⁠from 2020, when the ‌COVID-19 pandemic forced the U.S. Open to be played ⁠without spectators and Zverev’s loss unfolded inside an ​eerily empty ‌Ashe.

Rather than fearing a partisan crowd, Zverev said he ​was looking ⁠forward to it.

“I think it’s going to be a fantastic feeling playing, you know, a final in a sold-out Arthur Ashe and not in an empty one,” he said. “For me, a loud and energetic crowd is always great, as long as they’re fair.”

(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in New York; Editing ​by Kim Coghill)