Karen Khachanov has admitted to being annoyed by Alexander Zverev's ball bouncing during their US Open semi-final, but said it is within the rules and up to the umpire to take action. The Russian lost 6-3 7-6(9) 7-6(8) to Germany's Zverev in Friday's first semi-final at Flushing Meadows.
The two hours and 56-minute defeat in New York means Khachanov has yet to reach a Grand Slam final, having suffered three previous defeats in the last-four. He has come up short in semis at the 2022 US Open, the 2023 Australian Open, and now the 2026 US Open, winning just two sets across those matches.
Zverev's Ball Bouncing Draws Time Violation
One notable theme throughout the tournament has been Zverev's relentless ball bouncing when preparing to serve, something which resulted in a time violation being issued by the umpire during Friday's semi-final. The warning drew applause from the Arthur Ashe crowd when it was given by umpire Damien Dumusois.
Khachanov, 29, said: "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."
"Sasha mentioned this before also. I think we even play a little bit similar in a way, I would say. But he has bigger serve, bigger first serve, higher percentage also, I would say in overall."
Khachanov's View on the Rules
"But yeah, I mean, the way he bounces the ball, look, it annoys not only me, of course, a lot of players, because it takes so much time, really. You don't know how to prepare for the serve. You're ready and then it's another 12 bounces. So you again do split step, you kind of try yourself at every point like that," he added.
"So at the end of the day, if it's within the rules, with the time between points, I cannot say anything against that because it's within the rules, you know. So if he extends the time, then he gets time violation. So it's pretty simple as that."
Khachanov also said he would not ask the umpire to intervene. "I'm not the guy who would ask the umpire to look at it. I don't like to do that. I don't like when opponents are; I think in some situations, they mention to me even that I am honestly, I think, averaging 12 seconds or 15 seconds every point," he said.
"So maybe after some long rallies, it could happen that I was very close with the time in some other tournaments. And then, you know, the player is like crying or saying like about that. So I think it's a job of the umpire to notice and to be more aware and actually take the action. So it's up to him, not to me."
Zverev's Path to the Final
Zverev will now prepare for his sixth Grand Slam final as he chases a second major. The 29-year-old finally tasted Grand Slam glory this season after lifting the French Open in June with a five-set victory over Flavio Cobolli. That victory in Paris was followed by a runners-up finish at Wimbledon in July, where he lost in four sets to Jannik Sinner.
The big-server will now play his third straight slam final as he faces America's Ben Shelton on Sunday.
