Zverev, on Alcaraz’s KO at the US Open: “It was already seen that Carlos was a little rusty”
The German Alexander Zverev He was the eternal contender for a Grand Slam title in recent years, since he lost the US Open final in 2020. He was two sets up, also a couple of points away from victory, but ended up dwarfed by the Austrian Dominic Thiem already retired due to a wrist injury.
Junior world number one, he had to wait until he was 29 to settle pending accounts. Without Carlos Alcarazinjured in the wrist, and Jannik Sinner, Melted by the heat in the second round, the one from Hamburg knew how to handle the pressure of being more favorite than ever to succeed at Roland Garros.
It seemed like it was the chance of his life, he made another one at Wimbledon, but Sinner blocked his way in the final. Zverev He is once again the first contender at the US Open 2026, going from less to more. He will face the Russian in his third US Open semifinals Karen Khachanov.
Perhaps the greatest danger is the American Ben Shelton, who faces his compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the semis on Friday. And, above all, he was the executioner of the champion, the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz.
Zverev analyzed this elimination, praising Shelton’s tennis, also pointing out the Murcian’s problems due to his almost five months of absence due to a wrist ailment.
Don’t take credit away from Shelton, he played incredibly well
“Ben played wonderfully,” he wanted to make clear. He played incredibly well from the back of the court. He was very solid from the bottom. I thought it was fantastic to see. Of course, serving well and all that is normal for him, but I think his tennis from the back of the court was extraordinary.”
Alcaraz had not played against a top player for a long time, he missed more right hands than usual
There he saw one of the keys to the quarterfinal match, which ended at 3:33 in the morning. The latest in its conclusion. But Zverev also paid attention to Alcaraz’s response in such a demanding five-set, four-hour match. “As for Alcaraz, perhaps you could see that he was a little rusty. It had been a while since he faced a top-level player, and he missed more right hands than usual,” analyzed the German.
He put the situation in context Carlos Alcaraz, nor did he spare praise to Ben Shelton. “You have to give him all the credit he has, he played really fantastic,” said Zverev who could have him in front of him in Sunday’s final, from which a new US Open champion will emerge.
