by The 2024 US Open men’s and women’s singles tournaments produced some surprises in the end, with new names making deep runs to advance to the semifinals. In the women’s draw, Jessica Pegula, who will make her first appearance in a Grand Slam final, will face Aryna Sabalekena for the title on Saturday, and in the men’s draw, an American player will also appear in her first major final.
Taylor Fritz wins All-American semifinal
Taylor Fritz won a five-set endurance match against Frances Tiafoe in the first US Open semifinal between American players since 2005.
After a match that went back and forth, with exchanges of serves and long rallies between the two players, Fritz finally broke Tiafoe’s serve to win the fourth set. And it looked like he had finally worn Tiafoe down, winning the fifth set decisively.
Fritz finished 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 to qualify for the US Open and will face Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final.
Tiafoe shook off the early nervousness that led to several errors against Fritz. However, he calmed down and began to assert himself with powerful forehands and extended rallies that sent Fritz all over the court to defend. Eventually, Tiafoe rallied to win a first set that initially seemed lost.
The second set was much more of a back-and-forth affair, with neither player able to break the other’s serve. Fritz, in particular, had a harder time returning Tiafoe’s serve.
But Fritz eventually recovered and wore Tiafoe down, sending him side-to-side across the court and showing off a powerful forehand. Although Tiafoe forced the set to 5-5, Fritz won nine out of 10 points to avoid a tiebreaker and win the second set.
In the third set, Fritz tried to change his approach by playing more aggressively at the net rather than staying back. Yet he was unable to break Tiafoe’s serve, often finding himself blocked when trying to come back. As Fritz tried to hold on, Tiafoe countered with crosscourt forehands that couldn’t be caught.
However, Fritz came back immediately and held to start the fourth set. Abandoning play at the net, he took the game to Tiafoe with powerful serves and long rallies. But as Fritz took the lead, Tiafoe came back to level the set. Fritz finally forced a fifth set by breaking Tiafoe’s serve.
Jannik Sinner defeats New York Heat, Jack Draper in straight sets
Friday’s men’s semifinals began with No. 1 Jannik Sinner beating No. 25 Jack Draper in straight sets 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-2, but it was by no means as easy as the score indicates.
The match was played in the scorching New York heat, with both players battling fatigue. Draper had it the worst, sweating through his first two jerseys and appearing to vomit twice during a grueling second set. This set lasted one hour and 29 minutes, the second longest of the entire tournament.
It didn’t help that both men had played their quarterfinal matches just a day earlier.
Sinner displayed the form you expect from a top seed, even after appearing to injure his wrist in the second set. His serve was fantastic, winning 76% of the points, and he won more than his share of entertaining points against the 22-year-old Draper.
Sinner advances to her first US Open final, having already won her first Grand Slam this year at the Australian Open. He appears favorite on Sunday against Fritz, the first American in the final since 2006 and the first to qualify for a Grand Slam final since 2009.
Here’s how Friday’s action unfolded at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during the 2024 US Open.
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Taylor Fritz defeats Frances Tiafoe, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
After Fritz broke Tiafoe to win the fourth set, Tiafoe didn’t seem to have much left for the fifth. He looked tired and frustrated while Fritz seemed to be gaining strength and confidence.
Fritz will face Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final, scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
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Tiafoe enjoys a well-deserved break
As the crowd tries to lift him up, Tiafoe fights back to break Fritz’s serve and ultimately win a match. Fritz rode so maybe it’s not enough. But it’s a break and could give Tiafoe the refresh he needs to climb back into a set he looked like he was going to lose badly.
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Fritz now leads 4-0
Tiafoe doesn’t serve as well in this fifth set and Fritz capitalizes. It looks like he’s trying to regain control, but Fritz won’t give in. And Tiafoe shows his frustration by throwing his racket towards his seat.
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Fritz now controls the pace
Taylor Fritz could finally take control of this match in the fifth set. He started by holding his serve, then broke Frances Tiafoe to go up 2-0.
Tiafoe looks tired – which would be understandable – as Fritz sets the tone and moves it all over the field.
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Tiafoe-Fritz heads to a fifth set
Fritz breaks Tiafoe’s serve and this match heads to a fifth set. Fritz won the fourth, 6-4.
This one seemed destined for five sets from the start and it didn’t disappoint.
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Fritz goes up 5-4
Fritz seemingly abandoned his attempt to play as hard at the net, instead trying to force the action on Tiafoe with hard drives from the baseline. It seems to be working as he goes up 5-4 in the set with Tiafoe serving now.
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How did this match go?
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Fritz gets away with it
This is a different type of endurance match than the previous semifinal, when humidity bogged down Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper. Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz face off,
Fritz, however, takes a 4-3 lead after Tiafoe pushes back to make it 3-3. This match is starting to feel like a fifth set.
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Fritz takes the lead 2-1
Fritz held serve again, matching Tiafoe on almost every return. He won’t disappear in this fourth set, and Tiafoe shouldn’t expect it to.
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Fritz holds to start the fourth set
Fritz does not back down to start the fourth set. He won four points with his first four serves. Perhaps this is how he will regain control of the match from Tiafoe.
The two men had one of the best exchanges of the match, going back and forth on several returns before Fritz finally won the point for a 2-1 lead.
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Tiafoe wins the third set, 6-4
Fritz holds serve to close at 5-4. But Tiafoe wins the set point, supporting Fritz again with his serve.
Whether he’s tired or just can’t seem to regain control of the pace, Tiafoe appears to be taking control of the match as he heads into the fourth set.
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Fritz can’t break Tiafoe’s serve
Tiafoe’s serve frequently blocks Fritz so he cannot return it. Fritz also failed to catch Tiafoe’s crosscourt forehand. Tiafoe takes a 5-3 lead as Fritz goes to serve.
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Fritz plays more at the net in the third set
Rather than hanging back like he did, especially in the first set, Fritz plays the net more aggressively in the third set. Yet he plays more defense as Tiafoe holds serve and takes a 3-1 lead.
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Tiafoe breaks Fritz to start the third set
Tiafoe was unable to break Fritz’s serve during the second set, but begins the third set by doing just that.
Just when it looks like one player might gain the advantage, the other claws back. Really a back and forth battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium so far.
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Fritz wins the second set, 7-5
Fritz’s play at the net delays Tiafoe’s returns. He won nine out of ten points, preventing Tiafoe from securing a tiebreaker and winning the second set, 7-5.
This match is even heading towards a third set.
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Fritz can’t put away a match point
As Fritz serves for match point, Tiafoe finds another gear to cross the court repeatedly for returns and wins two points to tie the set at 5-5.
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Fritz makes Tiafoe run
This time it’s Fritz who runs Tiafoe across the court to try to follow his return and a blistering forehand. Tiafoe almost goes into the stands to try to catch a volley and Fritz capitalizes.
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Fritz holds the serve
Fritz may have taken control of the set, holding serve for a 5-4 lead. But so far, it’s been a back-and-forth game. The way things are going, Tiafoe could equalize on her next serve.
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Tiafoe’s backhand looks deadly
Tiafoe wins the point to tie the set at 4-4. His backhand was particularly powerful, burning the ball out of Fritz’s reach.
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Neither player gives in to the serve
Are we heading towards a five-set match? It starts to look like this as Fritz and Tiafoe hold serve. A possible tie-break to come as Fritz leads 4-3. Tiafoe to serve.
