US Open: Taylor Fritz overcomes Frances Tiafoe in all-American clash to reach maiden final - ‘A dream come true’
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Published 07/09/2024 at 08:29 GMT
Taylor Fritz is ready to "give it everything" after reaching his first Grand Slam final following victory over American compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the US Open semi-finals. Fritz claimed a five-set victory to set up a meeting with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, as he bids to become the first male American singles player to win a major title since 2003. “It’s the reason I do what I do," Fritz said.
Highlights: Fritz beats Tiafoe in five sets to reach US Open final
Taylor Fritz defeated compatriot Frances Tiafoe in an all-American five-set thriller at the US Open to reach his first Grand Slam final.
The American No. 1 wrapped up a 4-6 7-5 4-6 6-4 6-1 victory in three hours and 18 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium to set up a Flushing Meadows final with top seed Jannik Sinner, who had earlier beaten Brit Jack Draper in three sets.
Emotions ran high for Fritz after the match, as he could not believe he had reached the final of his home Grand Slam.
“It’s the reason I do what I do, the reason why I work so hard,” he said. “I’m in the final of the US Open.
“It’s a dream come true and I’m going to give it everything I possibly have. I know that for a fact.”
Fritz and Tiafoe were both bidding to become the first male US player to reach a major singles final since 2009, but only one of them would earn the chance to end a 21-year wait for an American title - the first since Andy Roddick in 2003.
It looked as though it would be No. 20 ranked Tiafoe who would advance to the final after he took the upper hand and led 2-1 following a powerful opening three sets.
Tiafoe, 26, was two games away from reaching what would have been his own maiden Grand Slam final, but Fritz forced a deciding fifth set helped by some complacency from his opponent.
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‘I'm going to come out and play really well’ - Fritz confidence high heading into US Open final
From there, Fritz did not look back as he dominated the decider and sealed a double break - claiming 25 of the 34 points on offer in the final set - as he marched towards the final.
The 26-year-old later admitted that he had to control his emotions in the final set as he edged towards victory.
“I felt I wasn’t doing anything wrong, I was just getting overwhelmed," Fritz revealed.
"I was freaking out a little bit and [coach Michael Russell] told me to keep doing what I was doing, accept it was okay and keep making him do it.
“That helped to calm me down and let me know I was doing the right thing.
“He was overwhelming from the baseline so much, taking the ball so early, changing lines so well,” Fritz added on Tiafoe’s aggressive approach.
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Taylor Fritz in action in the US Open semi-final against Frances Tiafoe.
Image credit: Getty Images
“I just told myself to try to stay in it, fight to hold my serve and apply scoreboard pressure as much as possible.
“If I didn’t give it absolutely everything I had and stick with it and see if his level might drop a little bit, I would regret it for a long time.”
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'Going to hurt really, really bad’ - Tiafoe felt ‘nerves got the better of me’ in loss to Fritz
Fritz will play in the final on Sunday, September 9 as he looks to end the wait for his first major title, while Australian Open champion Sinner chases his second of the season.
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