She wants to become the first American woman to reach a Grand Slam final in 15 years. Frances Tiafoe
Taylor Fritz celebrates first Grand Slam semi-final
The arch-enemy of American tennis players: Andy Roddick was the last American to reach a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 2009 – and lost 14:16 in the fifth set to Federer
Andre Agassi also lost to Roger Federer in the 2005 US Open final.
Big moment: Andy Roddick was the last American to win a Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2003
Two young people want to write history – Gallery
She wants to become the first American woman to reach a Grand Slam final in 15 years. Frances Tiafoe
Taylor Fritz celebrates first Grand Slam semi-final
The arch-enemy of American tennis players: Andy Roddick was the last American to reach a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 2009 – and lost 14:16 in the fifth set to Federer
Andre Agassi also lost to Roger Federer in the 2005 US Open final.
Big moment: Andy Roddick was the last American to win a Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2003
Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe have known each other since they were 14. On Friday, one of them will make history by becoming the first American woman to reach a Grand Slam final since 2009.
No time? Blue Sport sums it up for you
- Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe are battling for a spot in the US Open semifinals. They have known each other since they were 14.
- One thing is for sure: an American will be in the final. The last time an American reached the final of a Grand Slam tournament was Andy Roddick in 2009.
- Fritz and Tiafoe are looking forward to Friday night’s semifinal. “It’s going to be popcorn movies,” one said. “It’s going to be the biggest game of our lives,” the other said.
Even before the quarterfinals, Frances Tiafoe uttered a meaningful phrase: “Why not now? Why not us?” For more than 15 years, the most successful nation in tennis history has been waiting for a male Grand Slam finalist. Andy Roddick was the last American finalist at Wimbledon in 2009 – and the last American winner at the US Open in 2003.
It is now certain that there will be at least one national finalist in New York. Taylor Fritz, ranked 12 in the world, and Frances Tiafoe, ranked eight places lower, will meet in the semifinals on Friday. After Daniil Medvedev’s loss to world number one Jannik Sinner, it is also certain that there will be a new US Open champion.
New blood in the mix
Michael Russell, Taylor Fritz’s coach, sums up the new situation: “The big three have dominated for so long, there’s new blood in the mix now.” Nothing illustrates this better than the predicament of American tennis. Since Andy Roddick’s title 21 years ago, an American has reached the final of a Grand Slam five times: Roddick four times and Andre Agassi once. And each time, he lost to Roger Federer.
Fritz reached the quarter-finals for the first time thanks to his victory over Alexander Zverev at the fifth attempt, but he stressed: “The job is not done yet.” The 26-year-old Californian took as motivation the fact that his compatriots like Tommy Paul and Tiafoe reached the semi-finals before him. “I was really happy for them,” he said. “But it also gave me the belief that I could do the same thing.”
The biggest game of his life
Fritz and Tiafoe, who are the same age, are looking forward to the semifinal. “It’s going to be popcorn movies,” says one. “It’s going to be the biggest game of our lives,” says the other. The two have taken very different paths, but know each other very well and have played against each other regularly since they were 14.
Fritz grew up in one of the finest neighborhoods near San Diego; one of his great-great-grandfathers was the founder of the high-end department store Macy’s. Tiafoe’s parents, on the other hand, were born in war-torn Sierra Leone and came to the United States as refugees. As a laborer, his father helped build a new tennis center in Maryland and managed to get his sons free practice. Frances Tiafoe’s talent quickly became apparent.
Not against Federer this time
The physically strong and powerful server has now established himself in the top 20, but some believe he can go even further. Tiafoe had already reached the semifinals at Flushing Meadows two years ago, losing in five dramatic sets to eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz. That experience could speak in Tiafoe’s favor, as Fritz’s statistics, who is three months older, have won the last six head-to-head matches since 2016.
The time has come for the next American finalist – and this time, his opponent will not be Roger Federer.
Videos from the Sport section
Seventh Day Adventist
