Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz have set up an all-American US Open semi-final on Tuesday, boosting home hopes of a title sweep. The 20th seed Tiafoe progressed when ninth-ranked Grigor Dimitrov suffered an injury in the third set of their quarter-final and quit in the fourth with the score at 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 4-1.
Tiafoe, who made the last four in 2022, will face Fritz, who reached his first Grand Slam semi-final by defeating fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).
The US is guaranteed a home men's finalist for the first time since 2006 when Andy Roddick was defeated by Roger Federer. Roddick remains the last American man to capture a Grand Slam when he claimed the 2003 US Open.
All-American Quarter-Final
With Tiafoe and Fritz clashing on Friday, the US is guaranteed a home men's finalist for the first time since 2006 when Andy Roddick was defeated by Roger Federer. Roddick remains the last American man to capture a Grand Slam when he claimed the 2003 US Open.
Tiafoe's victory was bittersweet, however. The American expressed sympathy for his opponent, Dimitrov, who was forced to retire due to injury. "It's not the way I wanted to win even if I'm happy to get through to the semi-finals," Tiafoe said.
"It was a very high-level match. You're going to see me against another American, it's going to be great.
"It will be the biggest match of our careers."
Dimitrov, 33, sought treatment off court after the third set, but was reduced to walking pace in the fourth as his hopes slipped away. The Bulgarian was reluctant to discuss the specifics of his injury after a thigh problem forced him to also quit his last-16 match at Wimbledon in July.
"I think it's a combination from everything. I think there's really no point to talk about that. It's just the game, and I need to keep my head up," he said.
Zverev’s Disappointment
Fritz, meanwhile, had a tougher time against Zverev, who was attempting to reach his ninth semi-final at the Slams and third in New York. Despite a strong start, the German struggled to maintain his momentum, ultimately succumbing to a powerful performance by Fritz.
"I have had a few looks at Grand Slam quarter-finals over the years so I felt it was my turn to take a step further," said the 26-year-old Fritz, who cracked 12 aces amongst his 45 winners in his victory.
"It's cool I'm in the semis. But I very much have the mindset of the job's not done."
Zverev’s defeat was a crushing blow, as he had hoped to reach his third semi-final at the US Open. "Terrible. Just absolutely terrible by me," he said of his performance. "I did nothing to deserve the win, simple as that."
Navarro’s Breakthrough
In the women's draw, Emma Navarro, a native New Yorker, made a breakthrough to her first Grand Slam semi-final by defeating Paula Badosa of Spain 6-2, 7-5 after coming back from 5-1 down in the second set. The 20-year-old showed remarkable resilience, overcoming a seemingly insurmountable deficit to triumph over the Spanish star.
Navarro, playing in front of her home New York crowd, admitted she never doubted her ability to stage a comeback. "When I got to 5-2 I had an inkling that I'd win in two sets," said Navarro, who had lost in the first round on her only other two appearances at the tournament.
"I was a complete disaster today," said Badosa after committing 35 unforced errors. The defeat was a bitter blow for Badosa, who had been on the brink of retirement just three months ago due to a stress fracture of the back.
Badosa's defeat marked the end of her US Open journey. Navarro, however, will face the reigning Australian Open champion, world number two Aryna Sabalenka, in the semi-final.
Sabalenka's Dominance
Sabalenka cruised into the semi-finals, brushing aside Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen 6-1, 6-2. Sabalenka, the runner-up in 2023, has been a dominant force in the tournament, showcasing her power and precision.
Zheng, who was aiming to become the third Chinese woman to reach the US Open semi-finals after Li Na in 2013 and Peng Shuai in 2014, was no match for the Belarusian's relentless assault. Zheng said the record late finish to her last-16 clash, which finished at 2:15 am on Monday, had impacted her performance. She said she only went to bed at 5:00 am.
"I couldn't sleep after I finished the match 2:30 in the morning. I'm not able to practice yesterday because I was feeling terrible," said Zheng.
Sabalenka, who will be playing in her fourth successive US Open semi-final and ninth at the Slams, is confident in her chances.
“It was important that I got the early break, that was an advantage because it's tough to face her,” said Sabalenka. The Belarusian is looking forward to the challenge of the semi-final, aiming to go one step further than her runner-up finish in 2023.
With the US Open quarter-finals complete, the stage is set for an exciting semi-final showdown. Fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the clash of titans, as the tournament progresses towards its grand finale.
Awaiting the Champions
As the tournament progresses, the anticipation grows. Who will emerge as the champions of the 2024 US Open? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain, the battle for glory will be fierce, with each player striving to etch their name in the annals of tennis history.
The US Open 2024 has already delivered some dramatic moments, and the remaining matches promise even more excitement. Stay tuned for the captivating climax of this prestigious tournament as we witness the birth of new champions.
