Tiafoe Sets Up All-American Semifinal Clash with Fritz at US Open

Frances Tiafoe has secured a place in an all-American US Open semi-final against Taylor Fritz, ensuring a home player will feature in the men’s final for the first time in 18 years. Tiafoe, the 20th seed, advanced after his opponent, Grigor Dimitrov, ranked ninth, was forced to withdraw due to injury during their quarter-final. The match ended with the score at 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 4-1, as Dimitrov retired in the fourth set after sustaining an injury in the third.

This marks Tiafoe’s second consecutive US Open semi-final appearance, while Fritz reached his first Grand Slam semi-final earlier by defeating 2020 runner-up and fourth seed Alexander Zverev in a tight contest, 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3). Dimitrov, playing in his first US Open semi-final since 2019, struggled with injury in the third set but tried to continue after receiving treatment, though he could only move at a walking pace as his hopes faded.

Reflecting on the match, Tiafoe said, “It’s not the way I wanted to win, even though I’m happy to reach the semi-finals. It was a high-level match. Facing another American will be exciting. This will be the biggest match of our careers, and we’ve known each other since we were 14.”

The last American man to win a Grand Slam was Andy Roddick, who claimed the 2003 US Open title. Roddick was also the last American finalist at the US Open, losing to Roger Federer in the 2006 championship.

Friday’s semi-final between Tiafoe and Fritz will be the first all-American men’s semi-final at the US Open since Andre Agassi defeated Robby Ginepri in 2005. During the quarter-final, Tiafoe broke Dimitrov to lead 3-2 in the first set and eventually won it on his fourth set point.

In the second set, Tiafoe took a 3-1 lead before Dimitrov mounted a comeback in the seventh game. The set ended in a strange manner as Dimitrov double-faulted on two of his three set points, but Tiafoe also double-faulted on his third set point, allowing Dimitrov to level the match at one set each. Unfortunately for Dimitrov, his challenge faded after his injury in the third set, sealing Tiafoe’s victory.