Taylor Fritz made history on Friday by becoming the first American man since 2009 to advance to a Grand Slam final.
The 26-year-old battled through a gruelling five-set match against fellow American Frances Tiafoe, emerging victorious with a 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win. Fritz will now face world number one Jannik Sinner in the US Open final, marking the Italian’s first appearance in a New York Grand Slam final.
The semi-final between Fritz and Tiafoe was a fierce contest between two players who have been rising stars in American tennis. Fritz, ranked 12th in the world, twice came from behind to defeat Tiafoe, who had dominated the early stages of the match. Tiafoe, 26, initially appeared to be in control, taking the first and third sets with superior court coverage and powerful groundstrokes.
However, Fritz remained resilient throughout the match, fighting back with precision and calm under pressure. “He overwhelmed me at the start, and I was freaking out a little,” Fritz admitted after securing victory with a 16th ace in the final set. “I just told myself to stay in it, hold serve, and apply scoreboard pressure. I did all I could to stay in it. If I hadn’t done that, I’d regret it forever. In the final, I will come out and give it everything.”
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— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2024
Fritz’s journey to the final is historic, as he becomes the first American man to reach this stage since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009. Roddick, who was also the last American to win a Grand Slam title when he claimed the US Open crown in 2003, remains an important figure in American tennis. At the time of Roddick’s victory, Fritz was just five years old, a fact that underscores the significance of his achievement for the next generation of American players.
For Tiafoe, the semi-final was a bitter disappointment. The 26-year-old was the better player for much of the match, but a lazy drop shot in the fourth set seemed to signal the start of his collapse. As Tiafoe’s game faltered, Fritz capitalized, eventually taking the final set in just 27 minutes. Tiafoe won only nine points in the final set, marking his second US Open semi-final defeat in three years.
“It’s tough to swallow; it’s going to hurt,” Tiafoe said after the match. “I thought I was the better player, but in the fourth set I had some cramps. My body kind of shut down on me. Probably to do with nerves.”
Earlier in the day, world number one Jannik Sinner secured his place in the final with a straight-sets victory over Britain’s Jack Draper. The 23-year-old Italian defeated Draper 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-2 in a physically demanding three-hour contest. Sinner’s victory marks the first time an Italian man has reached the US Open final, a significant milestone for the country’s tennis legacy.
“It was a very physical match. He’s so tough to beat, so I’m excited to be in the final,” Sinner said after the match. Draper, the first British man to reach the US Open semi-finals since Andy Murray’s title win in 2012, struggled with 10 double faults and 43 unforced errors throughout the match. At one point, Draper vomited on the court, blaming the incident on anxiety, which has plagued him throughout his career.
“Jack and I know each other very well, we are great friends off court,” Sinner added. Despite the friendly rivalry, Sinner was relentless in his pursuit of victory, amassing 43 winners to Draper’s 20. The Briton’s performance was hampered further by a nasty fall during the match, which resulted in an injury to Sinner’s wrist. However, Sinner remained focused, winning the match in straight sets and setting up a final showdown with Fritz.
Sinner’s journey to the final has been remarkable. He won the Australian Open earlier this year and has continued to rise in the rankings, earning his place as the world’s top player. “In the final, it will be a very tough challenge,” Sinner acknowledged. “I’m happy to be in that position because if you are in the final on a Sunday, it means you are doing an amazing job.”
Meanwhile, Draper, who was competing in just his 10th Grand Slam, vowed to address the anxiety that has hindered his performance. “When you play the top players, the intensity is different. It’s a step up,” Draper explained. “I definitely felt more nerves around. I think when you add all that together, sometimes I do feel a bit nauseous on court, and I feel a little bit sick when it gets tough.”
Despite his struggles, Draper expressed determination to continue improving. “I try my best all the time to keep evolving, to keep learning, and it’s definitely something I’ve had to just work through my whole entire life,” he said.
