Taylor Fritz Becomes First American Man to Reach US Open Final Since 2006

Taylor Fritz celebrates during the U.S. Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on Sept. 6, 2024. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

An American man is in the U.S. Open final for the first time since 2006 after Taylor Fritz triumphed over Francis Tiafoe on Sept. 6 in New York City.

Fritz was down 1–0 and then 2–1 but rallied to win in five sets over Tiafoe, who said he was struggling to stay in the moment after securing a lead.

“It’s the reason I do what I do, the reason why I work so hard. I’m in the finals of the U.S. Open,” Fritz, the 12th seed, said on the court after the win.

“It’s a dream come true ... I’m going to give it everything I possibly have. I know that for a fact. I’m going to give it everything I can possibly give it,” he added.

The 4–6, 7–5, 4–6, 6–4, 6–1 win means Fritz is the first American man to reach the U.S. Open men’s singles final since Andy Roddick did so in 2006.

Roddick won the tournament in 2003 but lost in 2006 to Roger Federer.

Fritz is also the first American man to be in a singles final at a major since Roddick was in the final at Wimbledon in 2009.

Fritz said that when he was in the hole, he kept telling himself to give it his all.

“I told myself that if I didn’t give it absolutely everything I had to just stick with it and to see if his level might drop a little bit, then I was going to regret it for a long time,” Fritz said.

Tiafoe said he got ahead of himself after going up on Fritz, his friend and fellow American.

Francis Tiafoe moves to embrace Taylor Fritz after Fritz beat him in the U.S. Open men's singles semifinals at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on Sept. 6, 2024. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

“It’s tough. It’s really, really tough. Really, really tough to swallow. This one’s gonna hurt really, really bad,” Tiafoe said in a press conference after the match. “I thought I was the better player for sure tonight.”

Tiafoe said in the fourth set, he started to experience cramping. He attributed it to anxiety.

“Probably had a lot to do with nerves,” Tiafoe said. “I wasn’t tired at all. Just, to get into the final, probably the closest I was [ever],” he added.

Fritz will face number 1 seed Jannik Sinner on Sunday.

Sinner earlier Friday beat 25 seed Jack Draper 7–5, 7–6, 6–2.

Draper was ill and actually vomited during the match.

Sinner has also never been to the U.S. Open final. He won the Australian Open earlier this year.