The 2024 US Open men’s and women’s singles tournaments have produced some surprises at the end, with new names making deep runs to get to the semifinals. In the women’s draw, Jessica Pegula, making her first Grand Slam final appearance, will take on Aryna Sabalekena for the title on Saturday, and the men’s tournament will have an American player also making their first major final.
Taylor Fritz wins All-American semifinal
Taylor Fritz won a five-set endurance match over Frances Tiafoe in the first US Open semifinal between American players since 2005.
After a match that went back and forth, with both players trading serves and long rallies throughout, Fritz finally broke Tiafoe’s serve to win the fourth set. And it appeared as if he ultimately wore Tiafoe down, winning the fifth set in decisive fashion.
Fritz finished 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the US Open and will face Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final.
Tiafoe shook off early jitters that resulted in several mistakes against Fritz. However, he calmed down and began asserting 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 look 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 more difficulty returning Tiafoe’s serve.
But Fritz eventually recovered and wore Tiafoe down, sending him side to side across the court and showing a strong forehand. Though Tiafoe forced the set to 5-5, Fritz won nine of 10 points to prevent a tiebreaker and win the second set.
In the third set, Fritz attempted to change up his approach by playing more aggressively at the net rather than staying back. Yet he couldn’t break Tiafoe’s serve, often getting jammed when trying to return. As Fritz tried to stand his ground, Tiafoe countered with cross-court forehands that couldn’t be caught.
However, Fritz came right back and held to begin the fourth set. Abandoning play at the net, he took the game to Tiafoe with powerful serves and long rallies. But as Fritz went ahead, Tiafoe rallied to even the set. Fritz finally forced a fifth set by breaking Tiafoe’s serve.
Jannik Sinner beats New York heat, Jack Draper in straight sets
The men’s semfinals on Friday 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 implies.
The match was played in scorching New York City heat, with both players fighting off fatigue. Draper had the worst of it, sweating through his first two shirts and appearing to vomit twice during a grueling second set. That set wound up lasting an hour and 29 minutes, the second-longest of the entire tournament.
Not helping was the fact that both men played their quarterfinal matches just a day earlier.
Sinner displayed the form you’d expect from a top seed, even after appearing to hurt his wrist during the second set. His serve was fantastic, winning 76% of points off it, and he won more than his share of entertaining points against the 22-year-old Draper.
Sinner advances to his first US Open final, having already won his first Grand Slam this year at the Australian Open. He figures to be favored on Sunday against Fritz, the first American in the final since 2006 and the first to advance to a Grand Slam final since 2009.
Here’s how Friday’s action went down at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in 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 appear to have much left for the fifth. He looked tired and frustrated while Fritz appeared to gain strength and confidence.
Fritz will face Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final, scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
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Tiafoe gets a much needed break
With the crowd trying to lift him, Tiafoe fights back to break Fritz’s serve and finally win a game. Fritz has been rolling so it may not be enough. But it’s a break and might give Tiafoe the refresher he needs to climb back into a set that he looked like he would lose badly.
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Fritz now up 4-0
Tiafoe isn’t serving as well in this fifth set and Fritz is capitalizing. He looks like he’s trying to gain back some control, but Fritz isn’t yielding. And Tiafoe is showing his frustration, throwing his racket toward his seat.
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Fritz controlling pace now
Taylor Fritz might finally be taking control of this match in the fifth set. He began by holding serve, then broke Frances Tiafoe to go up 2-0.
Tiafoe looks as if he’s getting tired – which would be understandable – as Fritz is setting the pace and moving him all over the court.
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Tiafoe-Fritz going to a fifth set
Fritz breaks Tiafoe’s serve and this match is going to a fifth set. Fritz wins the fourth, 6-4.
This one seemed destined for five sets from the start and it is not disappointing.
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Fritz goes up 5-4
Fritz has seemingly abandoned trying to play the net as hard, trying instead to force the action at Tiafoe with hard drives from the baseline. It appears to be working as he goes up 5-4 in the set with Tiafoe now serving.
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How even has this match been?
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Fritz toughing it out
This is a different kind of endurance match than the earlier semifinal when humidity bogged Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper down. Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz are going toe to toe,
Fritz, however, goes in front 4-3 after Tiafoe pushed back to make it 3-3. This match is beginning to look like it’s headed toward a fifth set.
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Fritz takes 2-1 lead
Fritz once again held serve, matching Tiafoe on nearly every return. He’s not going away in this fourth set, nor should Tiafoe expect him to.
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Fritz holds to begin fourth set
Fritz isn’t backing down to begin the fourth set. He’s won four points with his first four serves. That might be how he regains control of the match from Tiafoe.
The two 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 third set, 6-4
Fritz holds serve to get within 5-4. But Tiafoe wins set point, again backing Fritz up with his serve.
Whether he’s tiring out or just can’t regain control of the pace, Tiafoe appears to be gaining control of the match as it heads to the fourth set.
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Fritz can’t break Tiafoe’s serve
Tiafoe’s serve is frequently jamming Fritz up so he can’t return it. Fritz hasn’t been able to catch up to Tiafoe’s cross-court forehand either. Tiafoe takes a 5-3 lead as Fritz goes to serve.
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Fritz playing net more in third set
Rather than staying back as he did, especially in the first set, Fritz is playing the net more aggressively in the third set. Yet he’s playing more defense as Tiafoe holds serve and takes a 3-1 lead.
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Tiafoe breaks Fritz to begin third set
Tiafoe could not 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 be gaining an advantage, the other recovers. Truly a back and forth battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium thus far.
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Fritz takes second set, 7-5
Fritz’s game at the net is holding off Tiafoe’s returns. He won nine of 10 points, preventing Tiafoe from getting a tiebreaker and taking the second set, 7-5.
This match is even heading to a third set.
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Fritz can’t put away match point
With Fritz serving for match point, Tiafoe finds another gear to cross the court repeatedly for returns and won two points to tie the set at 5-5.
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Fritz has Tiafoe running
This time, it’s Fritz who has Tiafoe running back and forth on the court trying to keep up with his return and a blistering forehand. Tiafoe nearly goes into the stands attempting to catch up to a volley and Fritz capitalizes.
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Fritz holds serve
Fritz may have taken control of the set, holding serve for a 5-4 lead. But it’s been a back and forth match thus far. The way it’s been going, Tiafoe could tie it up on his next serve.
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Tiafoe’s backhand looking lethal
Tiafoe wins the point to even the set at 4-4. His backhand has been particularly strong, scorching the ball cross-court out of Fritz’s reach.
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Neither player yielding on serve
Are we heading toward a five-set match? It’s beginning to look that way as both Fritz and Tiafoe are holding serve. Possible tiebreak coming up as Fritz leads 4-3. Tiafoe to serve.
