Russian-Armenian tennis star Karen Khachanov advanced to the semi-finals of the 2026 US Open on Wednesday when Belgium’s Alexander Blockx retired injured in their quarterfinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, reports Zartonk Sports. Khachanov led 6:2, 7:5, 3:2 when the 28th seed was unable to continue.
Khachanov had controlled the match from the baseline, taking the first set comfortably and breaking late to edge the second. Blockx, playing through a rib injury that had troubled him since the round of 16, took two medical timeouts and was in visible pain before stopping after Khachanov broke to lead 3:2 in the third.
“It’s a mixed feeling,” Khachanov said. “From one side, I was feeling I was dominating from the beginning. Then I started to feel like he was struggling more and more. He’s suffering, I don’t want to scream ‘come on’ or something like that. I wish him a speedy recovery. I’m super happy, I’m in the semi-finals.”
The result carries Khachanov into his third Grand Slam semi-final, and his second at the US Open after reaching the last four here in 2022. He also made the semi-finals of the 2023 Australian Open. Unseeded at a major for the first time since 2018, the former world No. 8 arrived in New York at No. 50 after a difficult season, and the run guarantees his return to the top 30.
Khachanov will next face top seed Alexander Zverev of Germany in the semi-finals on Thursday. Zverev reached the last four by beating Botic van de Zandschulp 6:2, 7:5, 6:1 in his quarterfinal.
For Blockx, the retirement ended a breakthrough run. The 21-year-old had become the first Belgian man to reach the US Open quarterfinals, beating fifth seed Flavio Cobolli and Francisco Cerúndolo on the way, playing through the rib problem in both.
