Taylor Fritz made history on Friday by becoming the first American man since 2009 to reach a Grand Slam final, advancing to the US Open title match where he will face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Fritz, ranked 12th in the world, overcame fellow American Frances Tiafoe in a five-set thriller, winning 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 after battling back twice in the match. His victory marks the first time since Andy Roddick's 2009 Wimbledon final appearance that an American man has reached a Grand Slam final.
Fritz's opponent, Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner, became the first Italian man to reach the US Open final after defeating Britain’s Jack Draper in straight sets. Sinner secured a 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 win in a match marked by Draper’s physical struggles, including vomiting on court due to anxiety. Sinner, who displayed his signature power with 43 winners, injured his wrist during the match but remains focused on the upcoming final against Fritz.
Tiafoe, who appeared strong for much of the semifinal, saw his game unravel after losing the fourth set due to a poorly executed drop shot. Despite being the better player in earlier stages, he suffered cramps and nerves, eventually losing in just 27 minutes in the final set. Reflecting on the loss, Tiafoe expressed disappointment, admitting his body "shut down" under the pressure.
Meanwhile, Draper, the first British man to reach a US Open semifinal since Andy Murray in 2012, struggled with 10 double faults and unforced errors, hampered by anxiety and physical issues. Despite his defeat, Draper vowed to work on managing his nerves better in future tournaments.
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