Taylor Fritz turns around Tiafoe Upset to book maiden US Open final against Jannik Sinner

US Open, 

Saturday, 7 September, 2024 

McCreadie Andias 

Taylor Fritz will be the first American to play in an ATP grand slam final in 15 years when he will face world Number 1 Jannik Sinner in the US Open Finals on Sunday. 

The 26-year-old from California overcame fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a dramatic semi Final encounter under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights Friday night. 

It was the first US Open semifinal matching two American men in 19 years, the crowd might have been forgiven for not knowing which to support. 

It was a sixth straight victory for Fritz against Tiafoe. 

He will be the first U.S. man to appear in a major final since Andy Roddick lost to Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2009. And if he can get past Sinner, Fritz would become the first U.S. man to win a Slam trophy since Roddick got his 21 years ago at the US Open.

"It's a dream come true. I'm in the final. So I'm going to come out and give everything I can possibly give," Fritz said. "I can't wait."

Fritz now has 17 major match wins in 2024, the most by an American man in a year since Roddick's 17 in 2003.

Fritz had never been past the quarterfinals at one of his sport's four most prestigious events until now, but this journey included wins over a trio of guys with a combined six Slam runner-up showings: Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini.

Meanwhile, Jack Draper's dream US Open run was ended in grueling fashion by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, as the Italian reached the final with a straight-sets victory in New York on Friday.

Sinner triumphed 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-2 over the British No. 1 in a physical contest lasting just over three hours at Flushing Meadows and will meet either Taylor Fritz or Frances Tiafoe in Sunday's final.

Draper had surged through to his maiden Grand Slam semifinal without dropping a set, the first man to do so at the US Open since 2020.