Tiafoe, Fritz Aim for All-American US Open Semifinal as Zheng and Badosa Continue Their Pursuits

Posted : 03 September 2024

On Tuesday, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz will aim to set up an all-American semifinal at the US Open, advancing closer to ending the 21-year drought for a male Grand Slam champion from the United States. Both players were just five years old when Andy Roddick won the 2003 US Open, marking the end of an era before the dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic took hold. With Federer retired, Nadal sidelined by injury, and Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz eliminated early this year, the final Grand Slam of the season presents an open field.

World number 20 Tiafoe is competing in the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year, having reached the semifinals in 2022, where he lost to eventual champion Alcaraz in a five-set thriller. Tiafoe’s notable victories include a win over four-time champion Nadal in the last 16 and a memorable five-set match against Federer in the first round of 2017. Tiafoe will face Grigor Dimitrov, the oldest player remaining in the draw at 33, under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Dimitrov is looking for a second semifinal appearance in New York, having reached the final four in 2019.

Meanwhile, Fritz will compete against fourth-ranked Alexander Zverev, who was runner-up at the 2020 US Open and lost to Alcaraz in the French Open final earlier this year. Zverev, aiming for his third semifinal appearance in New York, has expressed his determination to win a Grand Slam title. Fritz, who defeated Zverev in a dramatic four-set match at Wimbledon this year, is also seeking to advance further after reaching the quarterfinals in 2023.

In the women’s draw, Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen of China aims to avenge her Australian Open final loss to second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka. Zheng, who has already made history with the latest finish in women's match history at 2:15 a.m. on Monday, is seeking to become the third Chinese woman to reach the semifinals. In another quarterfinal match, Spain’s Paula Badosa will face Emma Navarro of the United States. Badosa, recovering from a debilitating back injury, seeks her first Grand Slam semifinal, while Navarro is aiming to build on her recent breakthrough after defeating defending champion Coco Gauff.

Tiafoe, Fritz Aim for All-American US Open Semifinal as Zheng and Badosa Continue Their Pursuits

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