Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz secured spots in an all-American semifinal at the U.S. Open, ensuring the United States will have a man in the title match for the first time in 18 years. Tiafoe reached the semifinals for the second time in three years when Grigor Dimitrov retired due to an injury while trailing Tiafoe in their match. On the other hand, Fritz defeated Alexander Zverev in four sets to reach his first major semifinal after four quarterfinal losses in Grand Slam events. The victory sets up a semifinal clash between the two Americans, with Fritz holding a 6-1 head-to-head advantage over Tiafoe.
The upcoming Fritz-Tiafoe matchup marks the first semifinal between two American men at a major tournament since 2005. No American man has won a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick in 2003. Dimitrov, who retired in his match against Tiafoe, had shown signs of injury during the game and could not continue. The other remaining men’s quarterfinal matches are scheduled for Wednesday at the U.S. Open.
In the women’s bracket, Emma Navarro of the U.S. reached her first Grand Slam semifinal by defeating Paula Badosa and will face Aryna Sabalenka next. Fritz’s coach highlighted the mindset of focusing on the job at hand rather than getting caught up in past losses, as Fritz continues his quest for a breakthrough at a major tournament. Despite some missed break opportunities, Fritz’s strong serving and net play were key factors in his victory over Zverev, a two-time Grand Slam finalist in recent years. The upcoming semifinal clash between Fritz and Tiafoe is highly anticipated, as both players aim to make their mark at the U.S. Open.
