MATCH REPORT | 2024 US Open: Taylor Fritz to the final! Huge comeback in All-American showdown to defeat Frances Tiafoe

An inspired Taylor Fritz defeated Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. The world No. 12 had to fight hard to keep up with Big-Foe in the first half of the match but remained mentally strong to reach his first Grand Slam final.

Although it was already certain that an American would be in the final, it remained to be seen who would represent the country. Taylor Fritz becomes the first local male to reach the final since Andy Roddick in 2003, joining Jessica Pegula on the women’s side as American contenders for the title.

At the start, Tiafoe (No. 20) seemed out of rhythm, and Fritz (No. 12) took advantage, breaking early to lead 3-0. However, once ‘Foe’ held his serve, he grew more comfortable on the court. Tiafoe, inspired, managed two consecutive breaks as he took control of the set.

Fritz was resilient, staying in the set and even creating a break opportunity, but he couldn’t recover, and Tiafoe secured the set 6-4. Returning Tiafoe’s serve was challenging, as he showed more consistency toward the end of the second set, with everything seemingly going his way on the court.

The second set saw both players at their most effective. Neither gave away chances on their serve, and after 9 games, they had only won three return points between them. Tiafoe was the first to show signs of doubt, facing a break point in the 10th game, but he played flawlessly under pressure.

Just as it seemed the set would head to a tiebreak, Tiafoe surprisingly lost his serve to love, giving Fritz the set 7-5. Fritz won 96% of his first-serve points (24/25), while Tiafoe won ‘only’ 70% (21/30).

Big-Foe looked physically better in the third set, securing an early break to lead 2-0. Both managed strong service games as the set progressed, avoiding long rallies. Fritz was more erratic, with 12 unforced errors compared to his opponent’s 7. After 41 minutes, Tiafoe took the set 6-4.

In the fourth set, both players served well until the closing stages. Tiafoe posed problems for Fritz with his returns but couldn’t capitalize. Two double faults and a mishit by Tiafoe handed the break and set to Fritz, pushing the match to a decisive 5th set.

Tiafoe’s mental game deteriorated as Fritz grew in confidence, securing two breaks early in the final set and winning 6 consecutive games to take a commanding 4-0 lead.

A double fault from Fritz saw one of the breaks erased, but it was merely anecdotal, as he won his fourth break point in a row and served out the match 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. He will face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the final, who had little trouble dispatching world No. 25 Jack Draper in the semifinals.