Match Preview
Preview: Fritz, Tiafoe’s all-American SF at US Open
Final-four clashes to happen Friday at hard-court main in New York
September 06, 2024
Corinne Dubreuil
Taylor Fritz leads Frances Tiafoe 6-1 within the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence.
By ATP Workers
No American has reached the lads’s singles ultimate on the US Open since 2006. On Friday, Taylor Fritz or Frances Tiafoe will finish that drought in New York.
The 2 gamers will step out onto Arthur Ashe Stadium in entrance of their dwelling followers for an intriguing semi-final conflict on the hard-court main. In addition to a matchup between Fritz’s serve-dominated sport and Tiafoe’s potential to redirect an opponent’s energy to his benefit, it should even be a duel between two shut associates which have performed a significant position within the resurgence of American males’s tennis in recent times.
“Taylor and I had a dialog about being No. 1, No. 2 People for a really very long time,” mentioned Tiafoe forward of the primary all-American Grand Slam semi-final since Andre Agassi defeated Robby Ginepri in 2005. “I bear in mind we have been sitting on a aircraft some years in the past, and he is a reasonably to-himself type of dude, and he is, like, ‘Bro, I feel me and you’re going to be one, two People and main the best way.”
Competing on the US Open because the main American within the PIF ATP Rankings, Fritz has expertly dealt with the strain to this point this fortnight as he bids to develop into the primary dwelling males’s singles champion since Andy Roddick in 2003. The 26-year-old has dropped simply two units throughout his 5 matches to this point, eliminating Matteo Berrettini, Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev within the course of.
After dropping his first 4 main quarter-finals, the best way Fritz held his nerve to beat Zverev in 4 units to succeed in his maiden semi-final was notably spectacular. Nevertheless, the eight-time ATP Tour champion has no intention of resting on his laurels.
“The emotional degree is down,” mentioned Fritz. “It is cool I am within the semis, however I very a lot have the mindset of ‘The job’s not performed’, and I hold taking it one match at a time like I have been all event and give attention to the subsequent match forward of me.”
Semi Last No.1⃣ @usopen 🎾@Taylor_Fritz97 🆚 @FTiafoe
Try Fritz’s #Insights card from the previous 52 weeks on the @atptour 👇
How will Tiafoe match up towards him on this all-American showdown❓#TennisInsights | @atptour pic.twitter.com/o7bhkVICeL
— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) September 5, 2024
Fritz enters the conflict with historical past on his aspect. The twelfth seed holds a 6-1 Lexus ATP Head2Head document towards Tiafoe, a tally which incorporates victory within the pair’s solely Grand Slam assembly on the 2022 Australian Open. But Tiafoe, who reached his maiden ATP Masters 1000 ultimate in Cincinnati earlier this month, believes previous encounters can have little bearing on Friday’s conflict in New York.
“It is completely different on Ashe, man,” mentioned Tiafoe, who additionally reached the US Open semi-finals in 2022. “It is completely different. Clearly you must be taught from these [defeats]. I imply, couple of these I believed I really ought to have gained. He is powerful, man. He is a troublesome participant. He performs nice from either side, has an awesome serve, he is shifting a lot better now. It may be powerful.”
In addition to changing into the primary American males’s singles finalist since Roddick in 2006, whoever triumphs in Friday’s semi-final may even considerably enhance their hopes of reaching the Nitto ATP Finals. At the moment seventh within the PIF ATP Dwell Race To Turin, Fritz would rise to fourth by reaching the championship match. Tiafoe, who has by no means certified for the celebrated season finale, will rise from 14th to tenth within the Dwell Race if he can defeat Fritz.
Sinner Eyes Revenge In opposition to Crimson-hot Draper
After years beset with damage struggles, has Jack Draper’s big-stage second lastly arrived?
The Briton has stormed to his maiden main semi-final with out dropping a set this fortnight on the US Open, the place World No. 1 Jannik Sinner stands in his manner within the final 4. For the 22-year-old Draper, a junior rival and pal of Sinner’s, his breakout main run in New York has come as a reward for years of perseverance.
“I’ve had occasions once I’ve perhaps thought to cease or, ‘Am I reduce out for this sport? Am I actually ok?’ And all this form of stuff,” mirrored Draper, who gained his maiden ATP Tour title in June in Stuttgart, after easing previous Alex de Minaur in straight units within the quarter-finals. “I stored on believing in myself, stored on working.
“These are laborious moments. This isn’t a tough second in comparison with that. This can be a privilege, and that is an honour to be on this place. This is the reason I work so laborious, so I’ve received to simply hold it getting in my stride. I am not afraid of being in these positions.”
But to drop a set. ❄️@jackdraper0 downs de Minaur 6-3 7-5 6-2 to advance into the #USOpen semi-finals!@usopen pic.twitter.com/02J7v9bMKG
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 4, 2024
So can Draper preserve his spectacular type to upset the World No. 1 and develop into the primary British males’s singles US Open finalist since Andy Murray lifted the trophy in 2012? The lefty, who has already assured he’ll crack the High 20 of the PIF ATP Rankings subsequent Monday along with his New York run, triumphed in his solely earlier Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly with Sinner on the Queen’s Membership in 2021.
Even previous to that assembly on the London grass, Sinner was aware of Draper’s sport. The Italian recollects seeing the Briton compete as a junior, and he is aware of he could need to adapt to the distinctive problem that his opponent’s big-serving, heavy-hitting lefty sport poses.
“I do not bear in mind taking part in towards him… However I do bear in mind seeing him from outdoors,” mentioned Sinner of Draper after defeating Daniil Medvedev within the quarter-finals. “Clearly lefty, it is also powerful to see, as there are fewer lefties than righties. You understand, his ball hanging was at all times very, superb.
“It may be a troublesome match. He hasn’t misplaced one set but. He is taking part in nice. He is serving nice. I noticed additionally the match right this moment, he is hitting very, very robust. So it should be powerful match however I am trying ahead to it and hopefully it should be match.”
By beating Medvedev in New York, Sinner accomplished the set of reaching the semi-finals in any respect 4 Grand Slam tournaments. The Australian Open champion clearly holds the benefit over his last-four opponent Draper by way of expertise on the tail finish of Grand Slams, however he shall be cautious of the Briton’s weapons in what shall be one of the high-powered matchups of the Grand Slam season.
