After struggling to close out matches earlier in the U.S. Open, Alexander Zverev hasn’t dropped a set against his past three opponents.

The tournament’s No. 1 seed is on to the semifinals in Flushing for the first time since 2021 after defeating Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 Wednesday night under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

He’ll face Karen Khachanov next. The Russian advanced when No. 28 seed Alexander Blockx was forced to retire due to injury.

In the midst of a career-best season, Zverev is gunning for his second Grand Slam title this year.

The German had finished as a Slam runner-up three times before finally breaking through in June with his first major crown at Roland Garros.

Following it up with a run to this year’s Wimbledon final, Zverev has now reached all four Grand Slam semifinals in a single year for the first time in his career.

At 29 years and 143 days old, Zverev is the second-oldest player of all time — and the oldest in the Open Era — to achieve that feat.

“I think the more often that you get to that stage, the more normal it becomes, which is something that you should never take for granted,” he said after his match. “I think it’s a very special feeling when it becomes normality. I don’t take it for granted at all. I know it can change in a heartbeat in tennis. I think confidence is something that is incredibly important, but also can go away quite quickly.

“I found that out after Wimbledon, where I didn’t play well throughout the two tournaments on a hard courts, and then I found it again here. Of course, I’m happy with how things are going, but I still hope to play two good matches here.”

With Jannik Sinner not participating and Carlos Alcaraz bounced in the quarterfinals, the men’s bracket is wide open.

Should Zverev prevail in the U.S. Open, the world No. 2 would be the first men’s singles player not named Sinner, Alcaraz, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic to win multiple Grand Slam titles in the same calendar year since Andre Agassi did it 27 years ago.

Converting on two of three break points, Zverev took the first set in 37 minutes.

The second set saw van de Zandschulp keep pace with Zverev until the Dutchman whiffed on the first break point he earned in the 10th game.

Zverev ultimately held before going up a break in the following game and then capping the second set in an hour and five minutes.

Zverev pretty much cruised through the third and final set, winning three of a possible five break points.

Though Zverev has won six of his nine meetings with Khachanov, their last match in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Cincinnati Open ended early.

Khachanov was forced to retire due to injury, but he dropped the first set and was trailing 0-3 in the second when he did.

The two memorably squared off in the final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where Zverev defeated Khachanov in straight sets to win gold.