Connors on Fritz and Tiafoe at US Open: 'Proving they belong at the top'

Jimmy Connors praised the success of Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe at the recent US Open. Both players surprised by reaching the semifinals, where Fritz claimed an epic victory to advance to his first Grand Slam final, eventually losing to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

It was the first time since 2006 that a local male player reached the final, when Roger Federer defeated Andy Roddick. The days of American dominance at the tournament, with seven titles between 1993 and 2003, seem distant, though Tiafoe and Fritz thrilled the Flushing Meadows crowd and came close to ending the drought for American players.

Former World No. 1 Connors, who won the US Open five times between 1974 and 1983, tying with Pete Sampras and Roger Federer as the most decorated champions, praised the American duo’s performance on his podcast, Advantage with Connors. The 8-time Grand Slam champion believes their success can inspire other American players.

"It's been a while, right?” Connors commented on the semifinal match between two Americans in a major. “We haven't had a men's champion since Roddick in 2003," he added.

"For two Americans to be in the semis was pretty exciting, and it goes to show that when you stay in there, keep grinding, training, working, sacrificing, and doing what's best to improve each day, good things happen," Connors said.

"They might be playing their best tennis. Alcaraz might have been in there. He lost. That's not their fault. If he doesn't make it, that's not their problem, but they were prepared and played the kind of tennis necessary to get to that point, which is great," added the 5-time US Open champion.

"Listen, the American men need to keep moving forward and prove they deserve those semifinal and final berths every time they step onto the court. Tennis is a 365-days-a-year job, and you can't live off one result. That result, as great as it was, is over now," he concluded.

Fritz and Tiafoe will lead Team World at the Laver Cup starting September 20, joining compatriot Ben Shelton, South Americans Alejandro Tabilo and Francisco Cerundolo, and Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis.