The US Open men’s singles is rapidly coming to a close, with just four players remaining at Flushing Meadows.
Andy Roddick backed an American to reach the final, and that will now come true, with an all-American semi-final set to take place.
Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz will go head-to-head for a place in the US Open final, with Jannik Sinner taking on Jack Draper in the other semi-final.
Nick Kyrgios backed Alex de Minaur to beat Draper in their quarter-final match, but the Briton produced a dominant display to make it to the last four.
It is now a first Grand Slam semi-final for the British youngster, with Fritz in the same position on the other side of the draw.
Nick Kyrgios makes Jannik Sinner claim at the US Open
Tiafoe meanwhile reached this stage in 2022, while Sinner is becoming a regular at this stage of Grand Slams, although this is his very first US Open semi-final spot.
But journalist Ben Rothenberg believes the Italian’s latest run has been overshadowed by his recent drugs ban case, writing on X: “Hard not to think about how much more fun this Jannik Sinner run would have felt if we were still in the dark about his whole anti-doping saga this year.
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“The timing of that, and the way it showed a lack of transparency at the top of tennis for months, just leaves a bad taste.”
Kyrgios, who is missing the tournament due to injury, agreed: “One of your better tweets. Nonetheless not easy to deal with all of this going on and still performing the way he is. Definitely the favourite now.”
Jannik Sinner in pole position to win the US Open
Sinner has quickly asserted his dominance in men’s tennis, with the Italian rising to the world number one spot earlier this summer.
He picked up his first Grand Slam title at the 2024 Australian Open, but has gradually declined at majors since then.
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A semi-final exit was suffered at the French Open, with a quarter-final loss coming at Wimbledon, with Carlos Alcaraz winning both.
But Alcaraz and US Open defending champion are out of the fourth and final major of the year, with Sinner the highest seed remaining.
He will certainly fancy his chances against 25th seed Draper, but must then get past a home favourite in either Tiafoe or Fritz if he is to emerge victorious in New York.
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