Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz have set up an all-American semi-final at the US Open, ensuring that for the first time in 18 years, an American man will feature in the singles final at Flushing Meadows. The last American to win a Grand Slam singles title was Andy Roddick, who triumphed in New York in 2003. Roddick also reached the US Open final in 2006, where he lost to Roger Federer.
Taylor Fritz ended his string of Grand Slam quarter-final disappointments by overcoming Alexander Zverev in a hard-fought match, winning 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). This marks Fritz’s first major semi-final after four previous attempts ended at the quarter-final stage.
Frances Tiafoe, known for his entertaining style, advanced to the semi-finals when his opponent, Grigor Dimitrov, was forced to retire due to a hamstring injury. Tiafoe led 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 4-1 at the time.
Expressing his feelings about the upcoming semi-final, Tiafoe said, “I didn’t want to end it like that, for me or the crowd. But Friday is going to be one hell of a day. It’s the biggest match of mine and Taylor’s life.”
For Tiafoe, this will be his third major semi-final, while Fritz is experiencing his first. Fritz, 26, expressed his excitement after his victory over Zverev, stating, “Today just felt different. I really felt like it was my time to go a step further. It’s only fitting I’m doing it here on this court, at the Open, in front of this crowd.”
Their semi-final showdown guarantees a home-grown finalist at the US Open, marking a significant moment for American tennis. In a related victory, New Yorker Emma Navarro advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s singles, further highlighting the success of American players at this year’s tournament.
