Tiafoe and Fritz Make American History At US Open

Two American stars Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz will face off at the US Open semifinals. Both of them are making history of their own and for their beloved country. No American man has won a grand slam singles title since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open, but this weekend, there is a chance to finally end that drought.

An American man is guaranteed to play in the US Open final after both Tiafoe and Fritz advanced to the semifinals. Tiafoe guaranteed his spot after his opponent, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, retired with an injury in the fourth set of their quarterfinal with Tiafoe leading, 6-3, 6-7 (7-5), 6-3, 4-1. Fritz booked his spot in his first major semifinal with a 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) win against Alexander Zverev.

Photo byBen HersheyonUnsplash

Taylor Fritz Declared ‘It’s My Time’

Taylor Fritz now can officially call himself a Grand Slam semi-finalist. After four trials on the previous Grand Slams, the No. 12 seed had finally passed the test this time. Fritz has a promising result in this 2024 season. He reached the quarterfinal at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon. He also survived until the fourth round at the French Open.

By beating Zverev, Fritz became the first American man since Andre Agassi in 1999 with four Grand Slam victories against ATP top-10 opponents in a single calendar year. Fritz previously peaked in the ATP rankings last year at No. 5 - now down to No. 12 - and reached the 2023 US Open quarterfinals. It is much more like a declaration from Fritz about himself this time would be his time. The American admitted that the key is to try to become more comfortable and get better. “That’s definitely what happened now,” he said.

The Door Is Wide Open for Frances Tiafoe

No African American has won the tournament in 56 years. Frances Tiafoe now has a chance to finally end that drought. His door was once opened two years ago when he upset the great Rafael Nadal in the round of 16 and reached a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time in his career. The door was closed after he lost to Carlos Alcaraz - who clinched the US Open title and became World No. 1. Tiafoe calls that run “The Carlos Year.”

A year later, Tiafoe had a difficult time and lost to his compatriot Ben Shelton - the one who got his revenge this time in the fourth round. This week Tiafoe has picked himself up and roared back. He has the big opportunity to claim what Arthur Ashe did when he won the US Open in 1968. To do so, he needs to get past another compatriot in the semifinal, Taylor Fritz.

Fritz and Tiafoe Break 19-Year Drought

The last All-American men’s single semifinal happened at the 2005 US Open when Andre Agassi defeated Robby Ginepri. Agassi went on to lose to the defending champion Roger Federer in the final. Fritz and Tiafoe, both 26, are also guaranteeing a home player in the men’s final for the first time since Andy Roddick 18 years ago. Roddick lost to the two-time defending champion Roger Federer. Well, Federer dominated the title win until 2008.

This year, with the absence of the "Big Three" - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic - anything will be possible. Fritz or Tiafoe will look to finally win a grand slam singles title like what Andy Roddick did 21 years ago this weekend.

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Article originally written by Tania Rompas