After an arduous and close-fought battle between two players intent on Grand Slam success, Taylor Fritz was the man left celebrating at Flushing Meadows as he defeated Alexander Zverev to book his place in the US Open semi-final for the first time ever. He will next take on compatriot and fellow home favourite Frances Tiafoe in an eagerly anticipated semi-final in New York.
A jubilant Taylor Fritz admitted he felt “amazing” after beating Alexander Zverev to reach the US Open semi-finals and set up a mouthwatering clash with countryman Frances Tiafoe.
The American, backed by a supportive home crowd, produced a strong performance to get the better of fourth seed Zverev and progress to the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.
While the German cut an increasingly frustrated figure as the match wore on, Fritz played some of the best tennis of his career to win 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3).
“I feel amazing,” he told Nick Kyrgios on the court after the match. “I’ve had a lot of looks at quarter-finals over the last couple of years but today just felt different – I really felt like it was my time to take it a step further.
“It’s only fitting I’m doing it here at this court at the Open in front of the crowd.”
The crowd played their part in a match that threatened to become a long and gruelling contest between two players determined not to fall at the quarter-final stage.
A similarly attritional battle had taken place between the two at Wimbledon in July, with Fritz coming out on top across five sets.
The result was the same this time, although the San Diego native proved a more convincing victor. And he will be aware of the need to improve if he is to go beyond the semi-final and win a first ever Grand Slam.
“You get to a point at the top of the game where your serve comes back a little more, so I’ve worked on adding to my game,” he added.
“My forehand and backhand have always been there but I’ve been trying to come to the net a little bit and make some drop shots, add stuff to my game so I can back up my serve even better.”
The marginal improvements clearly worked in Fritz’s favour in this quarter-final. In a tight first set, he had four break points, the most notable of them at 6-5 up. None of them were taken, but he came out on top in the tie break.
Zverev was roused by the loss of the first set, performing significantly better in the second set.
A superb passing shot sparked celebrations from the German No. 1, and soon after he had broken Fritz’s serve.
It did not take long for Zverev to serve out the set and level things up, at which point the momentum appeared to be shifting in his favour.
Zverev had another break point in the first game of the third set but failed to capitalise. That may well have been a turning point – Fritz held on to his serve and went 3-0 up, but then allowed Zverez back into the set as he levelled it up at 3-3.
In the night session, Tiafoe further delighted the New York fans by overcoming Grigor Dimitrov’s challenge and setting up an all-American semi-final.
After entertainingly taking the opening set with the crowd going wild, Tiafoe was pegged back in a tie-breaker before he pulled away again by winning the third.
The home favourite led the ninth seed from Bulgaria 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 4-1 when the 33-year-old had to retire after sustaining a hamstring injury.
“I didn’t want to end it like that, for me or the crowd, but Friday is going to be one hell of a day,” Tiafoe, the 20th seed at Flushing Meadows, said in his on-court interview.
“It’s the biggest match of mine and Taylor’s life.”
Fritz has lost all four of his previous Grand Slam semi-finals, while his opponent will be playing in his third last-four clash at a major.
