Frances Tiafoe on US Open SF loss: ‘This match is going to hurt me a lot’ | ATP Tour

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Tiafoe on US Open SF loss: “This match is going to hurt me a lot”

The American was looking for his first Grand Slam final

September 07, 2024

Frances Tiafoe did not want to hide his feelings on Friday after a devastating five-set loss to fellow countryman Taylor Fritz at the US Open.

The American, who was playing in his second Grand Slam semi-final, led 6-4, 5-7, 7-4 before being defeated. Tiafoe suffered cramps in the final set and failed to claim victory.

“This is really tough. It’s going to be hard to digest. This loss is going to hurt me a lot,” Tiafoe said in his post-match press conference. “I think I was superior. In the fourth set I had some cramps. I felt like my body was playing tricks on me.”

“It’s probably related to nerves. I wasn’t tired at all. I was tense to reach the final, it was the closest I’ve ever been. When I played with [Carlos] “Alcaraz was on the edge to get to the fifth set. Here I was in a good position to win. I was close to finding myself in that situation.”

“I felt incredible physically. It could also be a reflection of all the games I’ve played in a short space of time. I haven’t played that many games all year. In the end, I think my nerves got the better of me.”

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Tiafoe ingested liquids and salts during the changeovers in the fourth and fifth sets. That, however, was not enough to overcome Fritz, who will be looking to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick in 2003.

“I tried to give it my all in the fifth set. I tried a lot of different things. I drank pickle juice, I gargled, I ate, I tried to do everything I could,” Tiafoe said. “I was trying to give myself one last chance. It was the fifth set in a Grand Slam semi-final, you have to give it everything you’ve got. Sometimes you’re just not meant to.”

With his climb to the semifinals, Tiafoe has risen four spots to No. 16 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and moved up to No. 14 in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, preserving his hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals.

As the days go by, the American hopes to draw positive conclusions from his performance in New York.

“This result is going to hurt me for a long time. But I have to move on. I have to try to finish the season strong. I’m going to play in Asia, doing the right things,” said Tiafoe, who also reached the Cincinnati final in August. “I’m going to compete in the Laver Cup. I’ll let this loss hurt me, but I’m going to learn from it. I’m going to work really hard, I’m going to be in a position like this again. I’m just hoping to get a different result.”