New York: Alexander Zverev went from wondering whether his US Open campaign was 'pointless' to preparing for a second final at Flushing Meadows on Friday as his dramatic turnaround gave him a chance to win a second Grand Slam title.
The German had been pushed to five dramatic sets in each of the 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 US 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.
Earlier, top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend completed a team career Grand Slam with a 5-7 6-0 6-2 win over American wildcard duo Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery in the women's doubles final.
The win gave Siniakova her 12th Grand Slam doubles title and made her the first player to complete the career Grand Slam with two different players, having previously done it with fellow Czech Barbora Krejcikova.
"Yeah, very proud, I think, of our team, how we managed to do it. It's really tough to find any words," Siniakova said at their post-match press conference.
It also made Townsend the sixth active women's player to complete the career Grand Slam in doubles.
"To be able to come here and win as an adult, and be able to play on Arthur Ashe and to hold this trophy, it's something that's so special to me because I don't forget the things that I've gone through," Townsend told reporters.