Frances Tiafoe had his dreams of finally clinching a US Open title crushed on Friday in a five-set semi-final defeat to compatriot Taylor Fritz.
Tiafoe took a 2-1 lead in sets and appeared to be in good stead to right the wrongs of 2022, but came unstuck by Fritz, falling 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Tiafoe forged an incredible rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open semi-final 24 months ago. It was an epic battle that went the way of the Spaniard in five sets, but Tiafoe vowed to the crowd that he would come back and ‘win this thing one day’.
And it looked as if the stars were aligning for the 26-year-old this year once Novak Djokovic’s early exit had blown his side of the draw wide open. But Tiafoe was thwarted once again at the semi-final stage, this time by his friend and compatriot.
Either way, Fritz will be the first American man to contest a grand slam final since 2009, and it puts US tennis in a very healthy place.
Frances Tiafoe has high hopes for American tennis
Heading into the US Open, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz were among five American men inside the world’s top 20.
It offered much anticipation of native success at the tournament, which has ultimately been delivered by Fritz, who finds himself in his first grand slam final.
Reflecting on this success, Tiafoe offered his thoughts on the spectacular resurgence that American tennis has undergone and what awaits in the future.
“I think it will open the floodgates for sure and guys will start believing they can go deep in slams,” Tiafoe said. “Tommy [Paul] has made semis of slams, Ben [Shelton] as well, Fritz has now made a final and none of us younger guys have done that.
“We will see what happens on Sunday, but I think a lot of guys are going to be able to think they can do it, especially in this one where it’s later in the season and with American crowds. I think this is big, it shows it’s definitely possible.
“The game is open, even with [Carlos] Alcaraz and [Jannik] Sinner, it’s not what it used to be.”
Can Taylor Fritz win the US Open?
In defeating Tiafoe, Fritz has set up an eagerly-anticipated final with world number one Jannik Sinner on Sunday.
Sinner edged past Daniil Medvedev for a second time on the grand slam stage this year before halting Jack Draper‘s fairytale run to the semis.
The Italian has looked punishing as ever and will go into the championship match as the clear favorite.
With the odds stacked against the American, the crowd support might just be the defining factor.
Fritz acknowledges that this might just be his best opportunity to win a grand slam for a long time and that hunger could pull him over the line.
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