Tiafoe

Frances Tiafoe won in straight sets over Andrey Rublev to become the first American man to reach the US Open semi-finals since Andy Roddick in 2006.

A self-described goofy kid with a smile always on his face away from the courts, at times it seemed like he was still learning how to play with a killer instinct. While Tiafoe celebrated by staring across at the crowd, nodding his head, Rublev covered his face with a towel and cried as the best opportunity of his career slipped away. Tiafoe’s serving reached new heights in the second set as won 100% of his first-serve points, his level rising even more as he played the tiebreak of his life, ending it with a backhand return winner. He is an incredible athlete with an effective serve and a chaotic, all-court attacking style that has become increasingly clear in his mind. But at times his forehand would let him down, he was not organised enough behind the scenes and he struggled to close out tight matches. But finally, on the biggest court of those same grounds, Tiafoe made his move to the top of the sport in his own time. Tiafoe faced a set point on his serve at 5-6, which he eradicated by laying into a forehand and then held serve. After serving well, battering his forehand and continuing to move forward, he closed off a brilliant opening tiebreak by slamming down an 130mph ace. It’s tough to turn the page, but I did and now I’m in the semis.” Tiafoe is the first American men’s semi-finalist at the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2006. Andrey Rublev and Frances Tiafoe first stared each other down as rivals on the courts of Flushing Meadows in 2014. They were both 15 years old then, Tiafoe born three months later in January 1998, and as two of the most hyped youngsters of their time they knew each other well.

The Maryland native has a chance to be the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick at the U.S. Open in 2003.

He is the first Black man from the United States to reach a U.S. Whether the 24-year-old wants to hear it or not, he is also the first American man to reach a U.S. And in the third set, he appeared to bite a tennis ball before burying his face in his towel to cry, red rings around his eyes turning purplish. But it wasn’t just the tiebreaker — he was pitch perfect for 2 hours 36 minutes. Tiafoe kept his celebrations simple and effective — a flex of his muscles here, asking for more crowd noise there. The Hyattsville native looked light and breezy playing under a closed roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium, particularly compared to Rublev. He swore at his box. He has big-match experience, having logged wins over Roger Federer (in 2019), Nadal (in 2021 on clay) and Novak Djokovic (this year). One of them, seventh-ranked Casper Ruud of Norway, has never won a tournament above the lowest tier on the ATP’s three-tier rating system. 11 Andrey Rublev, putting him in the first Grand Slam semifinal of his career. “To be honest — it sounds weird — I actually don’t care!” said Tiafoe, giggling on ESPN as McEnroe stammered in disbelief. Tiafoe played with two mighty emotions fueling him Wednesday in what was either the biggest or the second-biggest match of his career, depending on how Monday’s win fits into his pantheon.