Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe will meet on the US Open semifinals in an all-American battle on Friday. Irrespective of the consequence, one in every of them will turn into the primary American man to achieve a Grand Slam ultimate since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009.
It will mark the primary time two American males face one another within the US Open semifinals since Robby Ginepri and Andre Agassi met within the 2005 semifinals.
“Friday goes to be one hell of a day,” Tiafoe stated.
Fritz leads their all-time collection 6-1, with Tiafoe’s lone win taking place in 2016 at Indian Wells. Regardless of the head-to-head numbers, it ought to be a aggressive match as each are taking part in their finest tennis. Additionally they have the additional incentive of snapping a 21-year drought with no American man successful a significant since Roddick in 2003. An fascinating twist to this showdown is the 2 are good mates who’ve additionally competed as doubles companions for years.
“It is the largest match of me and Taylor’s lives,” Tiafoe stated.”To have the ability to play him right here on the greatest area, in one of many greatest matches on the planet, it will be superior. I am unable to be extra excited. I will give the whole lot I received.”
Tiafoe, seeded No. 20, got his semifinal spot after No. 9 Grigor Dimitrov retired due to harm throughout their four-set battle. It wasn’t how he needed to earn his ticket, however Tiafoe did have a robust exhibiting and was up 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 4-1 on the time.
He arrived to New York recent off his first ATP Masters 1000 ultimate in Cincinnati, which he stated gave him lots of confidence for the ultimate Grand Slam of the season. The closest he has ever gotten to a significant trophy was on this similar match in 2022, when he gave Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz a troublesome battle within the semifinals.
“However why not? Why not be holding that trophy?” he told CBS Sports ahead of the 2024 US Open.
Throughout his submit match interview on Tuesday, Tiafoe stated his technique in opposition to Fritz goes to be “dig deep,” use his pace to be aggressive, and clear up his serve as a result of he wasn’t happy with the way it appeared in opposition to Dimitrov.
Tiafoe additionally is aware of easy methods to feed off a crowd, which is one thing even Fritz highlighted as one of many issues that makes him particularly harmful at Flushing Meadows.
“Frances is an efficient participant usually, however … he actually likes taking part in right here, and as soon as he kinda will get going, he performs rather well.” Fritz stated. “He sort of carries that momentum and the vitality from the group, the second.”
Chances are high each Individuals will likely be getting lots of vitality from the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. Fritz, the very best seeded American at No. 12, additionally has lots of momentum coming into this semifinal match.
He had by no means made it to a Grand Slam semifinal earlier than this match as he arrived with an 0-4 report in main quarterfinals. Nonetheless, Fritz lastly took issues a step additional with a 6-7 (7-2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) victory against No. 4 Alexander Zverev.
That win marked Fritz’s fourth victory in opposition to a high 10 opponent at a significant this season, essentially the most by an American man since Andre Agassi in 1999.
Fritz reached a career-best ATP rating in February 2023 when he landed at No. 5. Nonetheless, this calendar yr has seen him go the furthest he has ever gone in every of the 4 Grand Slams. He began by making the Australian Open quarterfinals, then the fourth spherical on the French Open. He made his second Wimbledon quarterfinal in July, and now right here he’s on the US Open semifinals.
Fritz stated the important thing to leveling up was that he now not felt happy with simply making the quarterfinals. Making it this far was already an enormous achievement for him, however he got here into the US Open on the lookout for extra.
“If it is me who ends (the American drought), then that is like my life’s dream principally, so it could imply the whole lot to me,” Fritz instructed CBS Sports.
No. 12 Taylor Fritz’s journey to the semifinals
- First spherical: def. Camilo Ugo Carabelli 7-5, 6-1, 6-2
- Second spherical: def. Matteo Berrettini: 6-3, 7-6(7-1), 6-1
- Third spherical: def. Francisco Comesana 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
- Spherical of 16: def. No. 8 Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2
- Quarterfinal: def. No. 4 Alexander Zverev 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
No. 20 Frances Tiafoe’s journey to the semifinals
- First spherical: def. Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
- Second spherical: def. Alexander Shevchenko 6-4, 6-1, 1-0 walkover
- Third spherical: def. No. 13 Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-3
- Spherical of 16: def. No. 28 Alexei Popyrin: 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-3
- Quarterfinal: def. No. 9 Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 4-1 walkover
