Khachanov's Epic Five-Set Comeback Sends Him to US Open Semifinals – Watch the Jaw-Dropping Highlights

Karen Khachanov has surged into the 2026 US Open semi-finals after Belgian rising star Alexander Blockx retired while trailing 6-2, 7-5, 3-2, ending a physically taxing quarter-final on Arthur Ashe Stadium just past midnight local time. The 30-year-old Moscow native, unseeded in New York for the first time since 2021, dominated behind a 78 % first-serve winning rate and hammered 35 winners to keep Blockx—hampered by an apparent left-hamstring injury—constantly on the run. After a medical time-out late in the second set, the 28th seed fought on for three more games before signalling he could not continue, handing Khachanov his third career major semi-final berth and first since Roland Garros 2024. Khachanov’s reward is a Friday night showdown with No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev, who edged Ben Shelton in five sets earlier in the day. The head-to-head stands at 4-3 in Zverev’s favour, but Khachanov won their most recent meeting on clay in Rome this spring, fueling belief that the powerful baseliner can break through for a maiden major final. “I’ve been knocking on the door for years,” he told reporters. “This time I feel fresher, smarter, and ready.” Key to Khachanov’s resurgence has been a renewed commitment to fitness after off-season back surgery. He leads the tournament in average forehand speed (136 km/h) and ranks third in total aces (78), numbers that have translated into straight-sets wins over three seeded opponents during the fortnight. Coach José Perlas credited improved shot selection: “Karen knows when to pull the trigger and when to absorb. That balance is why he’s still standing.” Off court, the Russian has drawn praise for embracing New York’s energy. Viral clips of his spontaneous post-match high-fives with fans in the Grandstand concourse have racked up more than 4 million views on social media, boosting his global following and potential endorsement appeal. To reach Sunday’s final, however, Khachanov must solve Zverev’s first-serve puzzle—an 88 % hold rate through five matches—and stay aggressive on return. Analysts note that the German’s backhand into the ad court could feed Khachanov’s inside-out forehand, a pattern that produced 14 winners against Blockx. Expect extended exchanges and scoreboard pressure from the outset; in seven previous clashes, five opening sets have gone to tie-breaks. Should Khachanov prevail, he would become the first unseeded US Open men’s finalist since Kevin Anderson in 2017, rewriting a career narrative that once branded him merely a hard-court threat. In Flushing Meadows 2026, he looks ready to seize far more.