4 Americans who earned the most from US Open 2024 ft. Frances Tiafoe
The US Open provides American talent, of which there is no death on the big stage, the best platform to shine. Case in point: Frances Tiafoe, who has now made back-to-back semifinals in New York.
The 2024 edition of the tournament was special for Americans with home players contesting both the men’s and women’s singles finals for the first time in years.
The memory of some of the big runs is still fresh and it makes for the perfect occasion to delve deeper into the home heroes and heroines’ performances:
Four highest-earning Americans at US Open 2024
#4 Frances Tiafoe
It is not always easy to follow a career-best run at a Slam up 12 months later. Frances Tiafoe, however, was determined to do so.
Having had his big stage breakthrough at last year’s US Open by making the semifinals, the American came into the tournament with some pressure on him. He rose to the occasion, scoring a few big wins over the likes of compatriot Ben Shelton, Novak Djokovic-conqueror Alexie Popyrin, and Grigor Dimitrov to return to the last four in New York.
And while the semifinal loss to Taylor Fritz would have left a bitter taste in his mouth, especially given that he was two sets to one up, he still has plenty of positives to take back from his performance.
#3 Emma Navarro
Twice in two Slams now has Emma Navarro taken out the (then) top-ranked player from her country, Coco Gauff. Her win at the US Open was more impressive given that Gauff was the defending champion.
Navarro, who had gone 1-4 in Grand Slams before 2024, was cruising to victory when her opponent raised her level in their fourth-round encounter. She, however, responded well to take the win in three sets 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. And honestly, it wasn’t even her best match. The American played some great tennis in her encounters against Marta Kostyuk and Paula Badosa as well and was rewarded with her first Grand Slam semifinal.
Navarro pushed Sabalenka in their last-four encounter, but it wasn’t quite enough at the time. It makes for a memorable run in the city where she was born nonetheless.
#2 Taylor Fritz
Taylor Fritz had never stumbled on the Grand Slam quarterfinal stage on four prior occasions. Buoyed by a boisterous home crowd, he was determined to change that outcome at this year’s US Open. The American’s quarterfinal against Alexander Zverev was an intense, high-quality affair and he was on top for most of the proceedings.
Fritz had already beaten a top-10 player en route to the quarterfinals in the form of Casper Ruud and there was hunger in his belly. Some lights-out serving and big hitting saw him break past the last-eight barrier. He followed it up with his first five-set win of the tournament against compatriot Frances Tiafoe to make his first Slam final. Sinner was too strong for him in the end, but he seemed to unlock a new level during his time in New York.
#1 Jessica Pegula
Much like Taylor Fritz, quarterfinal losses were beginning to pile up for Jessica Pegula. This US Open was different though.
The American had come into the tournament with two WTA 1000 finals (a title in Toronto of course) under her belt and was looking menacing. She was ruthless through most of the first week, but the statement win fittingly came in the quarterfinal.
Taking on World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, Pegula was too strong from the baseline with lightning-quick New York courts playing to her liking. Another big win over Karolina Muchova followed and she was through to her first Grand Slam final.
The American, who battled injuries and lay-offs early in her career, thoroughly deserved being on the podium and could move towards bigger things soon.