Preview: Fritz, Tiafoe’s all-American SF, can Draper upset Sinner at US Open? | ATP Tour

Game preview

Preview: Fritz, Tiafoe’s all-American SF at US Open

The final four fights will take place on Friday at the tough arena in New York

September 06, 2024

No American has reached the men’s final at the US Open since 2006. On Friday, Taylor Fritz or Frances Tiafoe will end that streak in New York.

The two players will go out to Arthur Ashe Stadium in front of their home fans where they will face each other in the semi-finals on a tough court. Along with the balance between Fritz’s dominant game and Tiafoe’s ability to redirect an opponent’s energy to his advantage, it will also be a battle between two close friends who have played a major role in the revival of American men’s tennis in recent years.

“Taylor and I had a conversation about being the No. 1, No. 2 Americans for a long time,” Tiafoe said ahead of his first American Grand Slam semi-final since Andre Agassi beat Robby Ginepri in -2005. “I remember we were sitting on a plane some years ago, and he’s a good person in his own right, and, like, ‘Bro, I think you and I are going to be one, two Americans and lead the way.’

Competing at the US Open as the top American player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Fritz has managed to handle the pressure so far over the fortnight as he bids to become the first men’s singles champion at home since Andy Roddick in 2003. The 26-year-old has gone downhill. only two sets in his five matches so far, eliminating Matteo Berrettini, Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev in the process.

After losing all four of his major quarter-finals, the way Fritz held on to defeat Zverev in four sets to reach his first semi-final was impressive. However, the eight-time ATP Tour champion has no intention of resting.

“The emotional level is low,” said Fritz. “It’s cool that I’m in the semi-finals, but I have the mindset of ‘The work is not done’, and I keep taking it one game at a time as if it were the whole tournament and focusing on the next game before it. me.”

Semi final No. 1⃣ @uvule 🎾@Taylor_Fritz97 🆚 @FTiafoe

Look at Fritz #Ideas card from the last 52 weeks @atptour 👇

How will Tiafoe face him in this All-American tournament❓#TennisInsights | @atptour pic.twitter.com/o7bhkVICeL

— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) September 5, 2024

Fritz enters the conference with history on his side. The 12th seed holds a 6-1 Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Tiafoe, a tally that includes winning their only Grand Slam meeting at the 2022 Australian Open. But Tiafoe, who reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Cincinnati earlier this month, believes past battles will have little bearing on Friday’s match in New York.

“It’s different with Ashe, man,” said Tiafoe, who also reached the semifinals of the 2022 US Open. “It’s different. Obviously you should learn from those [defeats]. I mean, a few of those I thought I should have won. You’re tough, man. He is a tough player. He’s playing well on both sides, he’s got a great career, he’s moving a lot better now. It will be difficult.”

As well as being the first US men’s singles finalist since Roddick in 2006, whoever wins Friday’s semi-final will further boost their hopes of reaching the Nitto ATP Finals. Currently ranked seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, Fritz will move up to fourth by reaching the championship match. Tiafoe, who has never qualified for the prestigious season, will move from 14th to 10th in the Live Race if he can beat Fritz.

Sinner Eyes Revenge Against Red-hot Draper
After years plagued by injury problems, has Jack Draper’s moment on the big stage arrived?

The Briton advanced to his first semi-final without dropping a set in two days at the US Open, where World No. 1 Jannik Sinner standing in his way in the last four. For 22-year-old Draper, Sinner’s younger rival and friend, his big run in New York came as a reward for years of perseverance.

“I’ve had times where I’ve probably thought about quitting or, ‘Am I special in this game?’ Am I really right?’ And all these things,” reflected Draper, who won his first ATP Tour title in June in Stuttgart, after beating Alex de Minaur in straight sets in the quarter-finals. “I continued to believe in myself, I continued to work.

“Those are difficult times. This is not a difficult time compared to that. This is a privilege, and this is a privilege to be in this position. That’s why I work so hard, so I have to keep trying. I am not afraid to be in these positions.”

However to drop the set. ❄️@jackdraper0 downs de Minaur 6-3 7-5 6-2 to advance #USOVula semi-finalist!@uvule pic.twitter.com/02J7v9bMKG

– ATP Tour (@atptour) September 4, 2024

So can Draper maintain his incredible form to upset the World No. 1 and become the first British man to reach the US Open final since Andy Murray lifted the trophy in 2012? The left-hander, who has confirmed he will crack the Top 20 of the PIF ATP Rankings next Monday with his run in New York, won his only previous Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Sinner at Queen’s Club in 2021.

Even before that meeting on the London lawn, Sinner was familiar with Draper’s game. The Italian remembers watching the Briton compete as a youngster, and knows he may have to adapt to the unique challenge posed by his rival’s much-served, hard-hitting left-hander.

“I don’t remember playing with him… But I remember seeing him outside,” said Sinner of Draper after defeating Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals. “It’s obviously lefty, and it’s hard to see, as there are fewer lefties than righties. You know, his batting was always very good.

“It will be a tough game. He hasn’t lost a single set yet. You play well. He worships a lot. I also saw the game today, he is hitting very hard. So it’s going to be a tough game but I’m looking forward to it and hopefully it’s going to be a good game.”

By defeating Medvedev in New York, Sinner completed a streak of reaching the semifinals of all four Grand Slam tournaments. The Australian Open champion clearly holds the advantage over his last four rivals Draper in terms of experience at the tail end of the Grand Slams, but will be wary of the British weapon in what will be one of the most intense matchups of the Grand Slam season.