3 milestones Taylor Fritz achieved by reaching the US Open 2024 final
12th seed Taylor Fritz reached his maiden Grand Slam final after beating Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the US Open semifinals. The 26-year-old thus became the first American male tennis player to reach a singles Major title clash since Andy Roddick in Wimbledon 2009.
Fritz came to the tournament without a single quarterfinal win in any of his previous Grand Slam appearances. However, he defeated fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev to book his place in the semifinals.
Here, Fritz faced 20th-seeded compatriot Frances Tiafoe and was trailing after three sets. However, the 12th seed fought hard and eventually secured a 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win.
On that note, let us look at some of the records the No. 1 ranked American created on his run to his maiden Major final.
#3. Taylor Fritz becomes the second-oldest American man to reach a Maiden Major final in the Open Era
Taylor Fritz earned the distinction of being the second-oldest American male player to reach a Maiden Major final in the Open Era. At 26y 313d, the current World No. 12 reached his maiden Major Final after multiple heartbreaks in the quarters of Slams.
The oldest American male player to reach a maiden Major final was Malivai Washington who reached the final of the 1996 Wimbledon, at the age of 27y 15d. Washington lost the match to Richard Krajicek in straight sets.
#2 Taylor Fritz takes the fourth longest main draw appearance to reach a maiden Major final
The 2024 US Open was the 33rd Major main draw appearance of Taylor Fritz. The American reached his maiden Major final at the event, making his 33 main draw appearances being the fourth longest wait for a player to reach a first Slam final.
The three players who are ahead of Fritz are Kevin Anderson (34th main draw appearance), Stanislas Wawrinka (36th main draw appearance), and David Ferrer (42nd main draw appearance). Anderson reached his maiden Major final at the 2017 US Open, losing to Rafael Nadal. The South African player reached one other Major final in his career at the 2018 Wimbledon, losing to Novak Djokovic.
Stanislas Wawrinka reached his maiden Major final at the 2014 Australian Open, winning the title against Rafael Nadal. The Swiss would go on to play three more Major finals in his career, winning the 2015 French Open and the 2016 US Open, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final on both occasions.
David Ferrer reached his maiden and only Major final at the 2013 French Open, losing to Rafael Nadal.
#1 Taylor Fritz becomes the first American man to reach the US Open final after 18 years
On reaching the final at the 2024 US Open, Fritz became the first American male player to reach the final at Flushing Meadows after 2006. The last man to reach a US Open final was Andy Roddick in 2006, who lost the final to Roger Federer.
Roddick also remains the last American man to win a Grand Slam in 2003, when he defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero in the US Open final. The former World No.1 was also the last American man to play any Major final, when he reached the 2009 Wimbledon final, losing to Federer after an epic contest that lasted five sets.