Karen Khachanov’s US Open run came to an end in the semifinals as he fell to Germany’s Alexander Zverev in a tightly contested battle, with the scoreline reading 3-6, 6-7, 6-7. The three-set defeat marked the end of the Russian player’s campaign at Flushing Meadows, but it was Khachanov’s post-match comments that kept the conversation going long after the final point.
Post-Match Criticism
During the post-match press conference, Khachanov directed criticism toward his opponent’s lengthy ball-bouncing routine, suggesting the habit disrupted his rhythm throughout the contest. The Russian player argued that Zverev’s pre-serve ritual became a factor in the closely contested affair, particularly in the two tiebreaks that decided the latter sets.
Khachanov elaborated on his preparations heading into the match, stating: “Look, he didn’t do anything different from what I was expecting, from what we were preparing with my team, with my coach. We know each other really well.” Despite familiarity with Zverev’s tendencies, Khachanov indicated that the specific execution of the routine proved more disruptive than anticipated.
Zverev’s Response
When addressing the criticism, Zverev offered little explanation for the ball-bouncing habit, admitting he had no clear reason for the repetitive motion. The German player’s acknowledgment that the routine lacked a specific purpose gave weight to Khachanov’s complaint about its impact on play.
Umpire Damien Dumusois oversaw the semifinal clash, which produced the kind of competitive tennis that characterized this year’s tournament. The consecutive tiebreak losses in sets two and three underscored just how evenly matched the competitors were throughout the encounter, with margins measured in mere points rather than games.