Matching Report
Fritz meets Tiafoe to reach first Grand Slam final at US Open
Fritz is the first American male finalist since 2009
September 07, 2024
Al Bello/Getty Images
Taylor Fritz defeated Frances Tiafoe in five sets on Friday evening to reach the US Open final.
By ATP staff
Taylor Fritz is one away from ending the United States’ 21-year wait for a Grand Slam men’s singles title.
The 12th seed met her long-time friend and fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Friday evening to reach her first major final at the US Open. Andy Roddick won at Flushing Meadows in 2003. Fritz will now have a chance to achieve his own Grand Slam glory on Sunday when he takes on top seed Jannik Sinner.
“That’s why I do what I do, why I work so hard. I’m in the finals of the US Open,” said Fritz crying. “It is my dream to come true and I will give you everything I have. I know that for a fact.”
Until the end of the biggest in his career 🤩@Taylor_Fritz97 beat Tiafoe 4-6 7-5 4-6 6-4 6-1.@uvule | #USOVula pic.twitter.com/CyQGm1CbWq
– ATP Tour (@atptour) September 7, 2024
The 26-year-old arrives in New York having won one ATP Masters 1000 event in Montreal and Cincinnati. But that proved no problem for Fritz, who is the first American to make a majors final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009.
A good chance at his home Slam seemed to be disappearing. After winning the second set under the lights of New York, Tiafoe, who is as good as anyone on Tour at using the crowd to his advantage, used the atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium to take control of the match.
The three-time ATP Tour No. 1 was preventing Fritz from dominating the action with his power and he was two matches away from making his own history. With tennis legends on the court including Roddick, Stan Smith and Tracy Austin, as well as celebrities from Travis Scott and Fat Joe to basketball players Tyrese Maxey and John Wall, Tiafoe also enjoyed the crowd’s support.
But after nine games without a break point in the fourth set, Tiafoe hit a forehand to suddenly give Fritz a set point, then missed a forehand shot – one of the worst low shots of the match – to send the match into a stalemate. a set of criteria.
Fritz caught the momentum and never looked back. The 12th seed hit a huge backhand, which Tiafoe couldn’t handle, in his first return game of the fifth set to break. Although he conceded a double break with a double fault later, it proved short-lived.
If the fifth-place finisher in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin is one thing, he’s a relentless competitor. He doesn’t have the flare of Tiafoe and he doesn’t show the same level of emotion. But Fritz always fights.
After losing four major quarterfinals, including two earlier this year, Fritz broke his duck against two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion and 2020 US Open finalist Alexander Zverev three days ago. Despite falling short to Tiafoe, who had the chance to convert four of his five break points, Fritz never showed any signs of panic, even if he was heartbroken inside.
“I didn’t feel like I was doing anything wrong, I was just frustrated,” said Fritz. [coach Michael Russell] he told me to keep doing what I’m doing, accept that it’s okay and keep making him do it. That helped calm me down and let me know that I was doing the right thing.”
The eight-time ATP Tour number one continued to play hard and won 25 of 34 points in the decider, claiming eight of the last nine games in three hours and 18 minutes.
“He was very strong in the first game, taking the ball early, changing lines well,” Fritz said of Tiafoe’s aggressive approach. “I just told myself to try to stay in it, fight to hold my job and put as much pressure on the scoreboard as possible.”
Fritz will take the Lexus ATP Head2Head record to 1-1 in his matchup with Sinner, who won his first Grand Slam title earlier this year at the Australian Open. He got a chance with a bold comeback at the big time of his career.
Fritz said: “I told myself that if I don’t give absolutely everything I have and stick with it and see if his quality can drop a little bit, I will regret it for a long time.”
Tiafoe started his season with a 19-18 record. But since arriving in Cincinnati, he has reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final and second US Open semi-final to improve to 29-20.
Did you know?
This was the first American men’s singles semifinal at a major tournament since Andre Agassi beat Robby Ginepri at the 2003 US Open.
