Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe will clash for a place on Friday in the final of the US Open after the pair of home players came good with New York quarter-final success.
Fritz started the party at Flushing Meadows with a three-and-a-half-hour marathon win over fourth seed Alexander Zverev7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) victory.
Tiafoe followed up by doing his part for the hosts at the final major of the season, advancing when Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov retired injured to hand over a 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-1 result.
The popular Dimitrov had to quit due to leg and groin problems in the third set, which led to an off-court medical timeout and eventually a retirement after more than three hours on the hardcourt.
“Obviously, it’s not the way I want to get through. But obviously happy to get through,” Tiafoe said. “Another semi-final here. Incredible.”
Tiafoe stayed in charge throughout, converting on six of 14 break points.
The winner called the effort “a really, really high-level match. I liked where I was at in the third regardless. But obviously, I didn’t want it to end like that.”
Fritz v Tiafoe will be the first all-American men’s major semi-final since the 2005 US Open (Andre Agassi beat Robby Ginepri).
The 20th seed Tiafoe has lost his last six matches against his compatriot
“Ultimately, you guys get to see me again, against another American, so Friday is going to be one hell of a day,” Tiafoe said.
The winner will either keep or seal national No. 1 honours.
An American is guaranteed the first finals spot at a major since 2009 Wimbledon when Andy Roddick lost to Roger Federer.
“I’ve had a lot of looks at quarter-finals in the past couple of years, and today just felt different,” Fritz said.
“I really feel that it was my time to take a step further and it’s only fitting I’m doing it here on this court at the Open in front of this crowd.”
