The US Open has been keeping Alexander Zverev up late. So late, in fact, that the German now feels like he has somehow landed in Melbourne.

After another comfortable win in New York, Zverev offered a sly summary of his recent routine. The top seed had little trouble against Botic van de Zandschulp on Wednesday, cruising to a 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 victory inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. More importantly, the win sent Zverev back into the US Open semifinals for the first time since 2021 and kept his remarkable Grand Slam season rolling.

But his biggest talking point afterward had little to do with his dominant performance.

For Zverev, late nights in New York have become almost routine. The German explained what happens after the match ends late in night: ice bath, food, media duties, treatment, and finally bed.

“I mean, I went to bed as late as 6:45 a.m. in the last week,” Zverev said. It is hardly the ideal rhythm for an athlete competing at the highest level. And after repeatedly finding himself finishing deep into the night, Zverev admitted he was beginning to feel the effects. “I’m kinda feel like jet lagged,” he added, before delivering the line that caught everyone’s attention: “I’m feeling like playing Australian Open in New York right now.”

The irony was difficult to miss. Melbourne is on the other side of the world, but Zverev’s body clock in New York appeared to be experiencing the same confusion.
Fortunately for him, Wednesday brought some relief. His quarterfinal ended at around 10:20 p.m. – a much earlier finish than some of the tournament’s recent late-night spectacles.

And Zverev will need every bit of that recovery time now.

The victory marked his 13th Grand Slam semifinal and his 51st win of the 2026 season. It also completed something he had never managed before: reaching at least the semifinals at all four Grand Slams in the same year.

At 29 years and 132 days old, Zverev is now the oldest player in the Open Era to reach all four Grand Slam semifinals in a season for the first time.