In a grueling five-setter, Taylor Fritz outlasted Frances Tiafoe to end a 15-year American drought. He became the first American man since Andy Roddick in 2009 to reach a major final and the first in 18 years to have the opportunity to claim the US Open.
In the first set, the California native quickly went up a break at 3-0 but was unable to maintain his lead. Tiafoe battled back to take the first set 6-4.
In the second set, Fritz and Tiafoe were neck and neck, with neither player getting a look at break points on Tiafoe’s serve. At 4-5, Tiafoe narrowly escaped a close game, with Fritz missing out on set points. However, Fritz was able to close out the set by serving at 5-6 and, with the help of a double fault, breaking Tiafoe to love.
Tiafoe quickly regrouped in the third set, breaking to start and serving extraordinarily, not allowing Fritz even one chance to break back. He took the set 6-4, gaining a 2-1 set lead in the match.
The fourth set featured quality tennis, but Tiafoe gave away the last game, serving two double faults and hitting a drop shot into the net.
With the match tied at 2-2, it could have gone either way, but Fritz quickly took control. He surged to a 4-0 lead, causing Tiafoe to throw his racket in frustration. Even when Tiafoe managed to get a break back, Fritz remained focused and won the most significant match of his career 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
In an emotional on-court interview, Fritz held back tears as he told Chris Eubanks, "It's the reason why I do what I do, it's the reason why I work so hard." Regardless of the outcome against Jannik Sinner in the final on Sunday, Taylor Fritz has certainly made America proud.
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