Frances Tiafoe has advanced to the US Open semifinals, where he will face fellow American Taylor Fritz, following Grigor Dimitrov’s retirement due to injury.
In an exciting Tuesday at Flushing Meadows, both Tiafoe, seeded 20th, and Fritz secured their spots in the semifinals, marking the first time in 18 years that an American man will feature in the title match at this Grand Slam tournament.
Tiafoe reached the final four for the second time in three years when Dimitrov retired while trailing 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 4-1 late in the fourth set. Tiafoe expressed mixed feelings about the way he progressed, stating, “It’s not the way I want to get through, but obviously happy to get through. Another semifinal here. Incredible.”
The match had its share of difficulties, particularly for Dimitrov, who had three set points in the tiebreak at 6-3 but committed double faults on the first two attempts, allowing Tiafoe to take the set.
Fritz, on the other hand, secured his place in the semis with a more compelling victory, defeating fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3). This victory marks Fritz’s first semifinal appearance in a major, having previously struggled with a 0-4 record in Grand Slam quarterfinals.
Friday’s match between Fritz and Tiafoe is particularly anticipated, with Tiafoe acknowledging their long-standing friendship and the significance of playing against each other at this stage. Tiafoe noted, “It’s the biggest match of me and Taylor’s life. We’ve known each other for so long… So to be able to play him here … is going to be awesome.”
Fritz currently holds a 6-1 advantage over Tiafoe in their professional encounters.
Tiafoe praised Fritz for his hard work and transformation as a player, emphasizing the mutual support among a group of American players striving for greatness, including Tommy Paul and Reilly Opelka.
The match represents a noteworthy moment in American tennis, as it is the first semifinal featuring two American men in any Grand Slam since 2005.
Dimitrov, seeded ninth, faced difficulties during the match due to a hamstring issue, which he acknowledged after retiring. He expressed disappointment about the situation and indicated the need for further assessment.
The remaining men’s quarterfinals are scheduled for Wednesday, featuring top seeds Jannik Sinner against Daniil Medvedev and Alex De Minaur against Jack Draper.