A thrilling All-American semifinal match at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night ensured that either Taylor Fritz or Francis Tiafoe would reach their first Grand Slam final.
The result also ensured that one of their compatriots would need to lose to face top-seeded Jannik Sinner in the U.S. Open championship on Sunday.
The only player to be eliminated from the tournament was 20th seed Tiafoe, who lost a 2-1 lead to lose to Fritz in five sets, ending a remarkable run to win his first career major title.
“Oh man, it's really tough. Really, really tough to accept. This is really tough,” said Tiafoe, 26. “I definitely thought I was the better player tonight.
“But you have to give credit to Taylor, he hung in there until the end and deserved to win tonight. I wish him the best in the final.”
Fritz, who improved to 7-1 against Tiafoe, broke Tiafoe's serve in his first game and raced out to a 3-0 lead before the night crowd had even taken their seats.
But Fritz dropped the next five games, including two on serve, before Tiafoe took the first set, 6-4, after Fritz's terrible mis-hit on set point flew over Tiafoe's head and across the baseline into the front row of seats.
The 6-foot-5 Fritz lost just one of 23 points by the end of the second set to tie the match at 7-5.
But Tiafoe quickly ended that streak by breaking in the first game of the third set to take a 6-4, 2-1 lead.
Tiafoe looked to have a chance to advance in the fourth-set tiebreak, but trailing 5-4, he double-faulted twice, missed a backhand and sunk a drop shot into the net to force a deciding fifth set for Fritz.
“All in all, it was a great night between two Americans,” Tiafoe said. “In the fourth set, [set]I don't really know what it was, but I just had stomach pains that came and went. I felt like I couldn't move.”
Tiafoe's suddenly shaky serve continued to betray him after that, and two more double faults allowed Fritz to be broken twice in the fifth set to lead 4-0 before closing out the match 6-1.
“Obviously, I was just trying to get that last shot. It was the fifth set of a Grand Slam semifinal and I was just trying to give it my all,” Tiafoe said. “Sometimes it's not that easy.”
