Fritz, Sinner battle through to US Open final
NEW YORK — Taylor Fritz held on to beat Frances Tiafoe 4-6 7-5 4-6 6-4 6-1 in a blockbuster all-American semi-final at the U.S. Open on Friday and will take on the role of the underdog when he meets Italian top seed Jannik Sinner in the finale.
It’s the first time in 15 years that an American man has reached a major final and both Fritz and Tiafoe wanted to be the one to break the barren streak. But Fritz had the legs to go the distance with 16 aces while Tiafoe lost steam in the fourth set.
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It capped an action-packed programme at Arthur Ashe Stadium, as Sinner took down ailing Briton Jack Draper 7-5 7-6(3) 6-2, overcoming muggy conditions in a chaotic match.
Fritz and Sinner, who are deadlocked 1-1 in career head-to-head, will meet on Sunday.
“It’s a dream come true, I’m in the final so I’m going to come out and give everything I possibly have and I know that for a fact,” an emotional Fritz said after the match.
“I’m going to give it everything I can possibly give.”
Fritz got a 0-3 head start in the first set but Tiafoe showed he would not be pushed around as he broke back from the baseline in the fifth game and outlasted Fritz in a 16-shot rally to take the lead in the seventh game.
The longer rallies gave way to quick points in the second set, where Fritz held to love in five straight service games and put up just three unforced errors before breaking Tiafoe with a terrific drop shot on set point.
Tiafoe got his revenge as he sent a forehand winner down the line to go up a break in the opening game of the third set and he raised his fist in satisfaction after taking the frame.
Tiafoe began to show signs of fatigue in the fourth set after an epic, 31-shot rally in the seventh game and he helped Fritz to the break in the 10th with a pair of double faults and a couple of unforced errors.
An exhausted Tiafoe tossed his racket in frustration after a double fault on break point saw him trailing 0-4 in the final set.
He got on the board when he broke Fritz in the fifth game but that sliver of momentum evaporated quickly and Fritz smiled after closing it out with an ace.
“He was overwhelming from the baseline,” said Fritz. “He was taking the ball so early, changing lines so well. It was really overwhelming.”
Sinner had an easier day as he closed it out against Draper in straight sets but left Flushing Meadows with injury concerns after he fell in the second set and appeared to hurt his wrist.
Little went right for Draper, who vomited three times in the second set as he struggled with heat and humidity that also left his shirt soaked in sweat.
Ten double faults also failed to help the 22-year-old’s bid to reach a Grand Slam final for the first time.
“It was a very physical match as we saw. I just tried to stay there mentally,” said Sinner, who has survived the intense pressure of being the overwhelming favorite to win his first U.S. Open title following the early exits of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner and Draper traded early breaks in the first set but the momentum swung in the Italian’s direction when the Briton dropped serve in the 11th game with a double fault.
