Alexander Zverev powers into US Open semi-finals despite late-night viewing session

Zverev completed the 6-2 7-5 6-1 win in the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium, and revealed afterwards he had stayed up until the early hours of the morning the night before to watch Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz's quarter-final clash.

"I watched Shelton-Alcaraz until 3.30am last night," Zverev said.

"I did not go to bed, I was up late, I was watching TV because I was sleeping in until 1pm anyway."

Zverev will face Karen Khachanov in the last four, after the Russian advanced when his opponent, Alexander Blockx, retired while trailing 6-2 7-5 3-2.

The victory underlined a highly successful season for Zverev, who reached all four Grand Slam semi-finals in a single season for the first time in his career, while also capturing his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open.

"I think the more often that you get to that stage, the more normal it becomes, which is something that you should never take for granted," said Zverev.

"I think it's a very special feeling when it becomes normality."

Zverev needed five sets to get past his first two opponents at Flushing Meadows, but his last few games have been straight-sets affairs.

"I think you saw in the first two rounds, I really didn't play well," he said.

"In other tournaments, I would be out in the first round, but here I can fight back and play best of five sets, play four-and-a-half hours. I've started playing better throughout the tournament and I'm definitely happy to be in the semi-finals here."

Meanwhile, Blockx was bitterly disappointing after being forced to retire against Khachanov in his semi-final with what he later confirmed was a back issue.

"I think today my body just gave up," he said.

"During the match, it was quite funny to me. I just had to laugh it off because it was just something new the whole time.

"I felt it was getting worse and worse. I couldn't land without feeling pain, without feeling my back, my ribs. So I just didn't want to yeah, maybe make it worse to miss the entire season."

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