US Open: Frances Tiafoe sets up an all-American semi-final after Grigor Dimitrov retires
Twentieth seed will now vie with 12th-seeded Taylor Fritz to become first American finalist in a home grand slam since Andy Roddick in 2006
Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz set up an all-American semi-final at the US Open with victories on Tuesday, guaranteeing the host country a men’s finalist in its grand slam tournament for the first time since 2006.
The 20th-seeded Tiafoe made it to the final four at Flushing Meadows for the second time in three years when his quarter-final opponent, Grigor Dimitrov, stopped playing because of an injury in the fourth set. Tiafoe was leading 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3, 4-1 when Dimitrov retired from the match.
Hours earlier, Fritz watched one last errant forehand from his higher-ranked, more-accomplished opponent land wide, dropped his neon-coloured racquet, clenched both fists and screamed: “Come on!”
Fritz gathered himself and his equipment, walked to the net for a hug with No 4 Alexander Zverev, who has twice been a grand slam runner-up, then stepped to the centre of Arthur Ashe Stadium, spread his arms wide and again yelled: “Come on!”
After years of climbing the rankings, of becoming the top American man in tennis, of coming close to making a breakthrough at one of his sport’s four most important events, Fritz finally came through at home, beating Zverev 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3) to reach a major semi-final for the first time.
The 12th-seeded Fritz, a 26-year-old from California, entered the day with an 0-4 record in slam quarter-finals.
