by The men’s and women’s singles tournaments at the 2024 US Open produced some surprises at the end, with new names managing to reach the semi-finals. In the women’s event, Jessica Pegula, making her first appearance in a Grand Slam final, will face Aryna Sabalekena for the title on Saturday, and the men’s tournament will also see an American player contest her first major final.
Taylor Fritz wins All-American semifinal
Taylor Fritz won a five-set endurance match against Frances Tiafoe in the first U.S. Open semifinal between American players since 2005.
After a very tight match, with both players trading serves and playing long rallies, Fritz finally managed to break Tiafoe’s serve to win the fourth set. And he seemed to wear 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 the final on Sunday.
Tiafoe overcame his early struggles, which included several errors against Fritz. He calmed down, however, and began to assert himself with powerful forehands and extended rallies that sent Fritz all over the court to defend. Tiafoe eventually managed to come back to win a first set that initially seemed lost.
The second set was tighter, 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 down Tiafoe, sending him back and forth across the court and showing off a powerful forehand. Although Tiafoe forced the set at 5-5, Fritz won nine of the 10 points to avoid a tiebreak and take the second set.
In the third set, Fritz tried to change his approach by playing more aggressively at the net rather than hanging back. But he was unable to break Tiafoe’s serve, often finding himself blocked when trying to return serve. As Fritz tried to hold on, Tiafoe counterattacked with crosscourt forehands that couldn’t be caught.
Fritz came back, however, and held on to start the fourth set. Giving up play at the net, he got the better of Tiafoe with powerful serves and long rallies. But as Fritz took the lead, Tiafoe came back to tie the set. Fritz eventually forced a fifth set by breaking Tiafoe’s serve.
Jannik Sinner beats New York Heat and Jack Draper in three sets
The men’s semifinals began on Friday with No. 1 Jannik Sinner beating No. 25 Jack Draper in three sets 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-2, but it was by no means as easy as the scoreline suggests.
The match was played in scorching New York heat, with both players battling fatigue. Draper bore the brunt of the pain, sweating through his first two shirts and appearing to vomit twice during a grueling second set. That set lasted an hour and 29 minutes, the second-longest of the entire tournament.
It didn’t help that both men had played their quarter-finals the day before.
Sinner displayed the form you would expect from a heavy favourite, even after appearing to injure his wrist in the second set. His serve was fantastic, winning 76 per cent of points, and he won more than his share of entertaining points against the 22-year-old Draper.
Sinner is reaching his first US Open final, having already won his first Grand Slam this year at the Australian Open. He is expected to be the favorite on Sunday to face Fritz, the first American to reach the final since 2006 and the first to reach 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 to do in 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 gets a well-deserved break
As the crowd tries to support him, Tiafoe fights back to break Fritz’s serve and finally win a game. Fritz has been in fine form, so it may not be enough. But it’s a break and it could give Tiafoe the refreshment he needs to get back into a set he looked set to lose.
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Fritz now leads 4-0
Tiafoe is not serving as well in this fifth set and Fritz takes advantage. He seems to want to regain control, but Fritz does not 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 may have finally taken control of this match in the fifth set. He started by holding serve, then broke Frances Tiafoe to take a 2-0 lead.
Tiafoe looks tired – understandably – as Fritz sets the pace and moves him all over the pitch.
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Tiafoe-Fritz on the way to a fifth set
Fritz breaks Tiafoe’s serve and the match goes to a fifth set. Fritz wins the fourth set 6-4.
This one looked destined for five sets from the start and it doesn’t disappoint.
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Fritz leads 5-4
Fritz seems to have given up on playing the net with such force, instead trying to force the action on Tiafoe with powerful shots from the baseline. It seems to be working as he leads 5-4 in the set with Tiafoe now serving.
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How balanced was this match?
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Fritz holds firm
This is a different kind of endurance match than the previous semi-final, when humidity brought Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper down. Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz face off,
Fritz, however, took the lead 4-3 after Tiafoe held on to make it 3-3. This match was starting to look like it was heading for a fifth set.
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Fritz leads 2-1
Fritz held his serve again, matching Tiafoe on nearly every return. He’s not going to get away with it in the fourth set, and Tiafoe shouldn’t expect him to.
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Fritz holds on to start fourth set
Fritz doesn’t give up to start the fourth set. He won four points on his first four serves. This is perhaps how he will regain control of the match against Tiafoe.
The two men had one of the best rallies 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 his serve and comes back to 5-4. But Tiafoe wins the set point, supporting Fritz again with his serve.
Whether he was tired or just couldn’t seem to get the rhythm back, Tiafoe seemed to be regaining control of the match heading into the fourth set.
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Fritz fails to break Tiafoe’s serve
Tiafoe’s serve often blocks Fritz who cannot return it. Fritz also fails to catch Tiafoe’s crosscourt forehand. Tiafoe takes the lead 5-3 when Fritz goes to serve.
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Fritz plays more at the net in the third set
Instead of hanging back as he did, especially in the first set, Fritz played more aggressively at the net in the third set. But he played more defense as Tiafoe held his serve and took a 3-1 lead.
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Tiafoe breaks Fritz to start third set
Tiafoe couldn’t break Fritz’s serve in the second set, but he starts the third set doing just that.
Just when it looks like one player might take the lead, the other recovers. A real back-and-forth battle so far at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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Fritz wins the second set, 7-5
Fritz’s net play helped contain Tiafoe’s returns. He won nine of the ten points, preventing Tiafoe from getting a tiebreak and winning the second set, 7-5.
This match is even heading towards a third set.
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Fritz fails to score a match point
As Fritz served for match point, Tiafoe found another gear to cross the court repeatedly for returns and won two points to level the set at 5-5.
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Fritz makes Tiafoe run
This time, it’s Fritz who has Tiafoe running all over the court trying to keep up with his return and his lightning forehand. Tiafoe is almost in the stands trying to catch a volley and Fritz takes advantage.
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Fritz keeps his service
Fritz may have taken control of the set, holding serve to lead 5-4. But the match has been very close so far. The way things are going, Tiafoe could level the score on his next serve.
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Tiafoe’s backhand looks deadly
Tiafoe wins the point and levels the set at 4-4. His backhand is particularly powerful, propelling the ball across the court out of Fritz’s reach.
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Neither player gives up on their serve.
Are we heading for a five-set match? It’s starting to look like it since both Fritz and Tiafoe have their serve. A tie-break is possible since Fritz leads 4-3. Tiafoe will serve.
