Fritz and Tiafoe make history for American tennis at the US Open | ATP Tour

US Open

Fritz and Tiafoe make history for American tennis at the US Open

They will meet on Friday in the semi-finals

September 04, 2024

For the first time since the 2005 US Open, there will be an all-American men’s semi-final at a Grand Slam tournament.

Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe will meet in this round on Friday at Flushing Meadow, ensuring that one will become a major finalist for the first time. The winner will be the first American to reach a Grand Slam singles final since Wimbledon in 2009, when Andy Roddick fell to Roger Federer.

Semifinals among Americans in Grand Slams this century

Fritz defeated fourth seed Alexander Zverev 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) in Tuesday’s first quarterfinal match before Tiafoe set up a matchup against his countryman. He was leading Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 4-1 when the ninth seed retired with an injury.

The last time there was an all-American men’s semifinal at a Grand Slam tournament, 19 years ago at Flushing Meadows, Andre Agassi defeated Robby Ginepri 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

There have been only two other all-American men’s Grand Slam semifinals this millennium. Pete Sampras beat Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in the 2002 US Open final and Agassi edged Sampras 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(0), 7-6(5), 6-1 in the 2000 Australian Open semifinals.

The winner of the Fritz-Tiafoe match will play in Sunday’s final in a bid to become the first American to win a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick lifted the 2003 US Open trophy.

Fritz leads Tiafoe 6-1 in the Lexus ATP Head2Head between the two. Their last meeting was last year in Acapulco, where Fritz emerged victorious by winning 6-3, 6-4.