US Open: Alexander Zverev rallies by Pablo Carreno Busta to reach first grand slam final

Bidding to become the first German men’s grand slam champion since Boris Becker won the 1996 Australian Open

‘I knew that I had to come up with better tennis and I knew that I had to be more stable,’ he says after comeback from two sets down

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Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates winning match point during his men's singles semi-final match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the 2020 US Open. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:41pm, 12 Sep 2020Updated: 2:41pm, 12 Sep 2020

German fifth seed Alexander Zverev overcame a listless start to secure a thrilling 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 6-3 US Open semi-final win over Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta on a poignant Friday in New York to reach his first grand slam final.

Organisers had commemorated the anniversary of the September 11 attacks before the semi-final with Broadway singer Christopher Jackson performing a trio of songs in front of a display for Black Lives Matter inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The German looked headed for certain defeat after committing 36 errors through the first two sets but used his versatile game to pick himself up and looked like a completely different player the rest of the way.

“I knew that I had to come up with better tennis and I knew that I had to be more stable … but I am through to my first grand slam final and that’s all that matters,” said Zverev.

After Zverev levelled the match at two sets apiece Carreno Busta took a medical timeout to have his back tended to and the German, with a sudden swagger in his step, got the break he needed in the first game before cruising home.