Taylor Fritz marched past fourth seed Alexander Zverev in a thrilling US Open quarter-final to set up an all-American encounter against Frances Tiafoe.
With the prospect of a maiden major semi-final edging closer, Taylor Fritz gripped the opportunity with both hands, refusing to make it five successive quarter-final defeats.
Despite squandering 11 key break points and therefore unwittingly challenging his opponent fourth seed Alexander Zverev to take control, Fritz remained resolute, refusing to give in, eventually letting out a roar towards a delighted Arthur Ashe crowd.
The American number one was rewarded for his perseverance as he marched into the last four on home soil at the US Open, with two superb tie-breaks bookending the match.
With Frances Tiafoe’s win against the injury-hampered Grigor Dimitrov, a male American finalist is guaranteed for the first time since Andy Roddick’s 2006 US Open final defeat to Roger Federer.
Laura Robson praises Taylor Fritz’s smart assessment of Alexander Zverev
With four defeats in four in major quarter-finals, Fritz’s previous defeat of Zverev at Wimbledon saw him later fall to Lorenzo Musetti in the last eight.
Zverev cut a frustrated figure periodically throughout the match, something Sky Sports pundit and former British number one Laura Robson suggested Fritz capitalised on.
She said after the match: “You look down the other end and someone was really physically and mentally flat. Taylor was noticing that.
“On the change of ends just before the 6-5 game he saw that Zverev went up from his chair and then he waited even longer. He was like ‘ok let me make him wait another 30 or 40 seconds’ and he basically let Zverev stress himself out.”
Zverev, who was optimistic about his US Open title chances, must again grapple with the frustration that he could not play his best tennis when it mattered most.
With multiple previous defeats, including his loss from two sets up in the 2020 US Open final, Zverev is at least seemingly casting himself out as consistent, albeit in a way totally unhelpful for him.
Taylor Fritz is seizing the opportunity Alexander Zverev can’t
An unlucky streak has seen Fritz run into Novak Djokovic twice and Rafael Nadal once in three of his four previous quarter-final defeats.
With Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic suffering shock US Open exits, the draw has become both open and lopsided.
The only two remaining major champions, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev, will be cut down to one with the pair going head-to-head in Wednesday’s quarter-final.
Fritz rose instead of ducked when the opportunity presented itself, growing into the tournament and playing the key points well.
Tiafoe is enjoying a hot run of form after a run to the Cincinnati final and the defeat of Ben Shelton, With Andy Roddick tipping Tiafoe to reach the US Open final.
With Fritz the higher seed, this marks his best chance at reaching a grand slam final – once you’re there, it’s anyone’s game.
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