Frances Tiafoe believes no player on the men’s Tour is unbeatable after booking his place in the semi-finals of the US Open.
The 26-year-old is through to the last four of a major event for the second time in his career after outlasting Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-1, who was forced to retire from their match due to injury. Tiafoe is only the fourth American man to reach multiple semi-finals at Flushing Meadows since 2000. Following in the footsteps of Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras.
“I thought my game plan was perfect. I let him in there in the second a little bit, but I thought I just kept going and I applied pressure really well.” Tiafoe said of his performance.
“The only thing is the serve again wasn’t where I wanted it to be. I gave him a lot of second-serve looks. I just got to do better on that front. Everything else, I returned great, I moved really well tonight, and I made him earn a lot of points, which is great.”
Tiafoe is seeded 20th in this year’s draw and was on course to play Novak Djokovic in the fourth round before the Serbian was knocked out of the tournament. Another former champion who failed to make it through to the second week was Carlos Alcaraz, who lost in the second round to Botic van de Zandschulp. Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev are the only top five seeds to make it through to the semi-final stage where they will play against each other on Wednesday.
With the dominance of the Big Three lessening, Tiafoe believes more players are in with a shout of claiming major titles. Roger Federer has retired and Rafael Nadal has played a reduced schedule this season due to injury. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic’s only title triumph so far in 2024 was at the Paris Olympics.
“It was only a matter of time, the game is open. It’s not like it once was where you make quarter-finals, you play Rafa, and you’re looking at flights,” said Tiafoe.
“Now it’s just totally different and no one’s unbeatable, especially later in the season where guys are maybe a little bit cooked.
“Maybe just not as fresh and they’re vulnerable. It’s pretty exciting.”
American Delight
Tiafoe will be hoping to continue his winning momentum into his next match against Taylor Fritz in what will be the first all-American men’s semi-final at the tournament since 2005. Fritz defeated Alexander Zverev 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3). He has beaten Fritz at the 2016 Indian Wells Masters but since then has suffered six consecutive losses to him with four of those defeats being in straight sets.
“It’s the biggest match of me and Taylor’s life,” said Tiafoe.
“We’ve known each other for so long, I’ve been playing against him since the 14s so to be able to play him here at the biggest arena, at one of the biggest matches in the world, is gonna be awesome. I can’t be more excited, I’m going to give everything I got.
“I know we’re too Americans but I hope y’all are with me come Friday.”
Reflecting on their careers so far, Tiafoe remembers one particular conversation the duo had a couple of years ago about leading the next generation of American men’s tennis players. The country currently has five players in the ATP top 20.
“He’s, like, ‘Bro, I think me and you are going to be [the No.] 1 [and] 2 Americans and leading the way,’” Tiafoe recalled.
“Coming from him. I was, like, dang, dude, 6:00 a.m., I’m pretty tired, but let’s do it. Why not? You know, he’s kind ofhad that mindset and he’s pushed me a lot, you know what I mean? Times I’m playing really bad or whatever the case may be and he’s doing it or vice versa, I think we have kind of always pushed each other. Now I think it’s great that we get to compete against each other in such a big match, and I’m happy for him. I know he’s happy for me.
“Let the best man win come Friday. It’s going to be epic. Popcorn, do what you got to do. It’s going to be a fun one come Friday.”
