Janice R. Andrews
NEW YORK — Under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night, Taylor Fritz did something very important that will help him become a legendary tennis player. To get to his first Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open, the 26-year-old Californian played his close friend and fellow American Frances Tiafoe in a tough five-set match. Fritz won 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. It was not only a personal win for him, but it was also the first time in 19 years that two American men had played each other in the semifinals of the U.S. Open, which added to the excitement of the night.
Both players have been on the ATP Tour for a long time and have known each other since they were young teens. They played together in youth events before they played in a Grand Slam. The crowd, which was split down the middle between Fritz and Tiafoe fans, mirrored this past by not knowing which player to cheer for in the matchup between friends. There were early changes in who was ahead, which showed how unpredictable the game was. But by the end, Fritz had won six straight games to secure his spot in the final.
Fritz spoke to the fans with tears in his eyes and a cracked voice after the game. “It’s why I do what I do.” “That’s why I work so hard.”
Fritz’s win showed how to keep going even when things get tough. He dug deep when he was down two sets to one and really needed to win. He turned the match around in the fourth set and easily won the fifth. Fritz felt like this moment was the end of years of hard work and close calls. Though he was ranked 12th, he beat some of the best players in the world on his way to the final, including Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, and Matteo Berrettini, who were all former Grand Slam winners.
Fritz will play Jannik Sinner, who is ranked No. 1 in the world, in the final. Sinner has an interesting story that leads up to the title match. The 23-year-old Italian beat Britain’s Jack Draper in a tough match, 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-2, to make it to the final. He had been cleared of doping charges less than three weeks before the event. Sinner’s path to the final has been clouded by controversy, but no one can deny how skilled and tough he is on the court.
This is a big moment for American men’s tennis because of what Fritz did. He is the first American since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009 to make it to a Grand Slam final. Fritz will also be the first American man to win a Grand Slam title since Roddick won the U.S. Open in 2003 if he wins on Sunday. Fritz said, “It’s a dream come true” when he thought about how big the moment was. I’m in the last. My plan is to give everything I have when I go out there. “I can’t wait.”
It became clear that the moment was too much for Tiafoe as the match went on. The player, who is usually very lively and full of energy, seemed to lose his confidence, especially at key points in the last sets. Fritz won the tough fourth set 6-4, and Tiafoe lost her cool in the fifth, making a string of mistakes that included a crucial double-fault that gave Fritz a 4-0 lead. Tiafoe threw his racket in anger, clearly angry. This was a rare sign of emotion from the normally happy player. Fritz double-faulted to give Tiafoe a break back, which gave them a small moment of hope, but the Maryland native couldn’t do enough to turn the tide. Fritz won the last set 6-1, ending a fight that lasted more than three hours and securing his place in tennis history.
The scene at the net, where the two friends hugged, showed how far they had come together. Both of them had their own problems on the way to this match, and even though Fritz won, you could feel the friendship between them.
Fritz faces a tough test in Sinner as he looks ahead to the final. The Italian is one of the most skilled and reliable players on tour. His game is based on strong groundstrokes and constant baseline exchanges. Sinner showed how strong he is mentally and physically by beating Draper in the semifinals. He even got treatment for a wrist injury and still won.
Question marks have been raised about Sinner’s path to the final because he was recently charged with cheating. Sinner was cleared because it was likely that an over-the-counter cream used by a teammate let small amounts of a banned drug into his system. Since the decision, he has been focusing on his tennis. He has played very well all event, including beating Draper 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-2. This makes him the favorite in the final, but Fritz will definitely be ready for it.
Fritz has been devoted to tennis for a lifetime, and the chance to win his first Grand Slam title is the pinnacle of his work. If he wins on Sunday, his name will go down in tennis history, and the United States will once again be the best in the world. Fritz’s rise to the final after years of close calls and steady improvement shows that hard work and faith can make even the biggest dreams come true.
Fritz is still focused on one goal: winning a Grand Slam. The final is coming up on Sunday. Fritz said, “I’m just going to say it all.” “This is what I’ve worked for my entire life.” Fritz is ready to take the day because the dreams of a whole country are on his shoulders.
