Fritz, Tiafoe to clash in all-American US Open semi-final
For the first time since 2009, there will be an all-American semi-final in the US Open men’s singles.
Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe won their respective quarter-finals in New York on Wednesday (AEST), setting up a blockbuster clash between the two for a spot in the final.
Fritz was a $2.40 underdog against fourth seed Alexander Zverev but defeated the German 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3) in a repeat of their Wimbledon meeting in July.
The world No.12 now moves through to his first-ever Grand Slam semi-final in five attempts.
Tiafoe came up against an in-form Grigor Dimitrov, who was forced to retire in the fourth set due to a leg injury.
The American was up 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 4-1 when the No.9 seed was forced to call it quits.
“Obviously it’s not how I want to get through,” Tiafoe said after the match.
“I didn’t want to end it like that.
“But I’m happy to be through.”
Fritz favoured against Tiafoe in early betting
Top tennis bookmakers have pegged Fritz as a $1.44 favourite for Saturday’s semi-final.
Bet365 also has him at $5 to win the 2024 US Open, behind only world No.1 Jannik Sinner ($1.95).
Tiafoe returns $2.75 to reach the final, while he is a $12 outsider to lift the trophy.
He is now 20-4 at the US Open since 2020, having made the semi-finals in 2022.
Fritz, meanwhile, will be appearing in the last four of a major for the first time.
“It’s cool I’m in the semis,” Fritz said in his post-match press conference.
“But I very much have the mindset of, you know, the job’s not done.
“I keep taking it one match at a time like I’ve been all tournament and focus on the next match ahead of me.”
Ahead of Tiafoe’s win, Fritz spoke of how he would feel about playing his compatriot in front of a home crowd.
“If it’s ‘Foe’, that’s going to be a lot of fun, and that’s going to be just electric,” he said.
“I think that would be awesome for the fans, as well, to be guaranteed that one of us is going to be going to the finals.”
In the other half of the draw, Sinner still looms as the red-hot favourite to win the US Open.
The Italian is paying $1.35 at PlayUp to defeat Daniil Medvedev in their quarter-final early on Thursday morning.
