NEW YORK -- Alexander Zverev will play for his second Grand Slam title this year after beating Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6) on Friday in the US Open semifinals. Zverev will play Sunday against No. 8 seed Ben Shelton or No. 11 Frances Tiafoe, who play later Friday. Both have been semifinalists in Flushing Meadows, but neither has reached a major final. Zverev is 9-1 against Tiafoe and 5-0 against Shelton. The U.S. seeks its first men's Grand Slam champion since Andy Roddick in 2003.

"Hopefully I can not make the American dream come true on Sunday," Zverev said with a laugh. Zverev broke through at the French Open this year and reached the Wimbledon final, losing to Jannik Sinner. The German is 24-2 in Grand Slam matches this season.

He's trying to become the fourth man in the Open era to win his first two major titles in the same year, joining Jimmy Connors (1974), Guillermo Vilas (1977) and Sinner (2024). For Zverev, the US Open is the title he let get away in 2020, when he lost to Dominic Thiem after winning the first two sets.

Zverev has won 13 consecutive sets and earned his 52nd tour-level match win this season, leading the men's tour. Khachanov was trying to reach his first major final after a surprising run. ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed.