Fritz ends 15-year American wait for male Slam finalist

Taylor Fritz became nan first American man successful 15 years to scope a Grand Slam singles last arsenic he hit compatriot Frances Tiafoe successful a five-set US Open thriller.

Fritz fought backmost to hit his bully friend Tiafoe 4-6 7-5 4-6 6-4 6-1 nether nan lights successful New York.

Andy Roddick was nan past American man to triumph a awesome singles title, having triumphed astatine nan US Open successful 2003.

Roddick was besides nan past American man to scope a Grand Slam singles last - astatine Wimbledon successful 2009 - arsenic good arsenic being nan past to scope a US Open last successful 2006.

Fritz will face world number 1 Jannik Sinner successful Sunday's last astatine Flushing Meadows.

The 12th seed had antecedently ne'er made it beyond nan quarter-final of a Grand Slam successful 4 attempts.

"He overwhelmed maine astatine nan commencement and I was freaking retired a little," Fritz, 26, said.

"I did each I could to enactment successful it. If I hadn't person done that, I'd regret it forever."

It is simply a 2nd semi-final nonaccomplishment successful 2 years for Tiafoe, who was beaten by eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz astatine nan aforesaid shape successful 2022.

There could besides beryllium an American champion successful nan women's singles last erstwhile Jessica Pegula takes connected Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka connected Saturday.

Fritz enjoyed a affirmative commencement successful beforehand of a packed location connected Arthur Ashe, breaking Tiafoe astatine nan first opportunity to title into a 3-0 lead.

But Tiafoe, 1 of nan sport's astir engaging players, readjusted, winning six of nan pursuing 7 games to wrap up nan first set.

Fritz was overmuch much competitory successful nan 2nd set, dropping conscionable 1 constituent connected service earlier breaking Tiafoe arsenic he attempted to unit a tie-break.

However, immoderate momentum was soon ripped distant from Fritz.

Tiafoe collapsed successful nan opening crippled of nan 3rd and his powerful serve, mixed pinch immoderate awesome athleticism, saw him return a two-sets-to-one lead.

However, nan unit told. Serving astatine 4-5, Tiafoe double faulted doubly to gaffe from 40-15 to deuce, earlier 2 chaotic errors talented nan group to Fritz.

Tiafoe struggled to regain his intensity, pinch Fritz charging into a 4-0 lead earlier his opponent, willed connected by nan crowd, regained a break.

However, it was not enough, pinch Tiafoe instantly going 0-40 down connected service to beryllium surgery consecutive back, and Fritz confidently served retired nan win.