For the first time since 2006, the United States has a male finalist at the US Open after Taylor Fritz overcame Frances Tiafoe in a five-set classic at Flushing Meadows.
The 26-year-old had never reached the semi-final of a Grand Slam prior to this tournament but now the world number 12 has a chance to claim his maiden title.
Fritz came from two sets to one behind to trump his compatriot and set up a Sunday showdown with the world number one Jannik Sinner.
The American star will now hope to get over the line for the first time at a Grand Slam. It’s been a while since the United States have had a winner at a major tournament
Frances Tiafoe shares the problem he had against Taylor Fritz at US Open
This should have been different for Tiafoe. Unlike Fritz, he reached the semi-final of the US Open in 2022 and he might have fancied coming out on top last night.
Instead, he suffered the same fate as he did previously and lost – something that Tiafoe has grown accustomed to previously from winning positions.
The 26-year-old is the world number 20 and he once again managed to lose from a winning position – something that he did at Wimbledon when facing Carlos Alcaraz in round three.
He said in his press conference, recorded on YouTube: “It’s tough. It’s really, really tough to swallow. This one is going to hurt, really really bad. I thought I was the better player for sure tonight.
“In the fourth out of nowhere, I just had some in-and-out cramps. I felt my body shut down on me. I don’t know, it probably had a lot to do with nerves. I wasn’t tired at all, but I was about to get into the final, I was probably the closest I was – when I played Alcaraz I was hanging on to go five. Here I was in a position to win.
“I have been feeling unbelievable physically but also it can be a testament to how many matches I have played in a short time and I haven’t played many matches all year like that. But ultimately I think nerves got the better of me that night.
“It went down like a similar thing with Alcaraz and Novak that year at the French and it seems like the same thing, but you have to tip your hat to Taylor, he competed and he deserved it tonight so all the best to him in the final.”
Tiafoe can come again but he has to improve mentally
He alluded to it himself but Tiafoe has to find a way to conquer his nerves. This isn’t the first time he’s lost from winning positions and getting over the line is proving problematic.
Tiafoe is a quality player and he can take a lot of heart from his run at this tournament. However, it will stick with him for a while that Fritz was able to come from behind and shatter his dreams.
It’s still been a pretty good year for Tiafoe on the Grand Slam front. As a result, when the dust settles he’s got to take the positives from this tournament and establish how to combat his nerves and get over the line at these events.
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