It was bitter disappointment for Frances Tiafoe at the US Open as he fell to another semi-final defeat, falling in five sets to his compatriot Taylor Fritz.
Tiafoe had been tipped to go far at Flushing Meadows this year and he stepped up to the challenge by reaching the last-four for the second time in his career.
The 26-year-old looked like a strong candidate after battling back to defeat Ben Shelton and, after Novak Djokovic suffered an early exit, it seemed as if the stars were aligning for Tiafoe.
However, it wasn’t meant to be this year for Tiafoe, who suffered from cramps on his way to a 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 defeat.
Frances Tiafoe upset by US Open crowd in defeat to Taylor Fritz
Frances Tiafoe has always been a crowd favorite at the US Open.
It’s the same crowd that stood before him as he fell to a crushing defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2022 semi-final. It was a match that reduced the likable American to tears, later vowing that he would come back and ‘win this thing one day’.
Following that tournament, the US Open firmly established itself at the top of his bucket list of tournaments to win but, after his exit to Taylor Fritz, Tiafoe will have to wait 12 months for another shot.
“I still really thought they were for me,” Tiafoe said of the New York crowd. “It made me feel even worse when I was 4-0 down in the fourth because you saw a lot of people leaving.
“It’s crazy. But ultimately it’s a great night to have two Americans. But once you’re out there you’re not really thinking ‘Oh I am playing another American guy’.”
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Tiafoe will be back stronger
Tiafoe was clearly distraught when leaving the court, realizing that he had left the match slip from a commanding position.
It wasn’t just the match that passed, it was one of the best chances he would get at winning his beloved US Open for a long time. It will sting.
However, Tiafoe is strong and there is no doubt that he will bounce back.
During his press conference, he opened up on the state of American tennis and claimed that this is just the beginning of a wave of success that will come, regardless of the fact that Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz are around.
This also offers promise for Tiafoe himself. He has proven time and time again that he belongs on these stages, competing against the best players in the world.
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