(September 4, 2024) FLUSHING, NY– Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe both won their quarterfinal matches on Tuesday at the US Open to set up an All-American showdown between them in Friday’s men’s singles semifinals.
The 20th-seeded Tiafoe reached the final four at Flushing Meadows for the second time in three years when his quarterfinal opponent, Grigor Dimitrov, retired due to an injury in the fourth set. Tiafoe was leading 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3, 4-1 when Dimitrov retired from the match.
“It’s not the way I want to get through,” Tiafoe said, “but obviously happy to get through. Another semifinal here. Incredible.”
“First of all, you know, congrats to Frances,” said a disappointed Dimitrov during his news conference. “Fought very hard. Played good tennis. Really good tennis, actually.
“Yeah, it’s just disappointing moment for me,” said Tiafoe. “I need to, yeah, need to reassess a couple of things. But considering how, you know, I have played throughout the whole weeks here, you know, I’ll take that quarterfinal any time.”
“I mean, definitely abrupt ending, but I thought the level was really high there for two-and-a-half sets, three sets, whatever the case may be. Really, really high.
“I thought I thought my game plan was perfect. I let him in there in the second a little bit, but I thought I just kept going, thought I applied pressure really well. Thought I played well.
“The only thing, serve again wasn’t where I wanted to be. Gave him a lot of second-serve looks. Just got to do better on that front. Everything else, I returned great, I moved really well tonight, and I made him earn a lot of points, which is great.
“Ultimately, man, I don’t really have that much to say. Super happy to be in another semi.”
Friday’s match will be the first Grand Slam semifinal between two American men since the 2005 US Open (Andre Agassi d. Robby Ginepri) and will guarantee Fritz or Tiafoe to be the first American men’s Grand Slam singles finalist since Andy Roddick at 2009 Wimbledon.
American Emma Navarro advanced to the women’s semifinals on Tuesday, and will play Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday for a spot in Saturday’s women’s singles final. Jessica Pegula plays Iga Swiatek in a quarterfinal match on Wednesday to potentially give the U.S. two semifinalists in both men’s and women’s singles. The last Grand Slam to feature multiple American men’s and women’s singles semifinalists was the 2003 US Open (Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick; Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati).
Related News:
US Open: Fritz Beats Zverev to Reach First Major Semifinal
US Open: Navarro Reaches Her First Major Semifinal, Will Face Sabalenka
