New Delhi: Taylor Fritz defeated Frances Tiafoe in an all-American clash of the US Open men’s singles semi-final on Saturday, at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. Despite trailing 1-2 in sets, the World No.12 Fritz rallied past countrymen Tiafoe 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a match that spanned for three hours and 18 minutes.
Fritz became the first American male tennis player to reach a Grand Slam final in 15 years after Andy Roddick reached the Wimbledon final in 2009. Roddick is also the last American to win a Grand Slam title in men’s singles when he clinched the US Open title in 2003.
For the major parts of the second semifinal, Tiafoe, who was trailing 1-6 against the 26-year-old Fritz in the head-to-head record, looked more composed among the two. Only an insipid shot from Fritz to the net squandered the advantage and lost the fourth set.
Fritz, who had reached the semi-final by defeating fourth-ranked Alexander Zverev in the previous round, was unable to convert a set point in the 10th game of the second set. He succeeded at the next time of asking to level the match before handing the initiative straight back when Tiafoe broke for 1-0 in the third and held the advantage to retake the lead.
Jannik Sinner enters first US Open final
Jannik Sinner on Friday became the first Italian man to reach the US Open final by defeating an ailing Jack Draper in straight sets but then backed his “anxious” friend to win multiple Grand Slam titles.
Australian Open champion and world number one Sinner came through 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 and will face either Taylor Fritz for the title on Sunday.
(With inputs from AFP)
Despite trailing 1-2 in sets, the World No.12 Taylor Fritz rallied past countrymen France Tiafoe 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a match that spanned for three hours and 18 minutes. Fritz will face World No.1 Jannik Sinner in the US Open final on Sunday. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
