Can an American man win the US Open for the first time in 21 years? What the bookies have to say about Frances Tiafoe & Taylor Fritz's odds
World No. 12 Taylor Fritz and World No. 20 Frances Tiafoe are poised to end a 21-year-long drought for an American to win the US Open men's singles title. The duo will lock horns on Saturday in the semifinals of the iconic event in New York.
Taylor Fritz is through to the last four of a Major event for the first time in his career. He struggled to get past the quarterfinals at four Major events in the past, but is now two wins away from claiming his first Grand Slam title on tour.
Fritz has had a promising season so far by garnering 43 wins from 59 matches, including title-winning runs in the Delray Beach Open and the Eastbourne International. He also reached the finals of the Munich Open, but couldn't get past German No. 2 Jan-Lennard Struff.
Frances Tiafoe, meanwhile, has had a mediocre season on the men's tour this year. He's chalked up 29 wins from 49 matches, including runner-up finishes in the U.S. Men's Claycourt Championships and the Cincinnati Open.
He also reached the semifinals of the Delray Beach Open and the Citi Open in Washington, where he lost to Sebastian Korda in straight sets. Having said that, the 2024 US Open has been highly competitive this year.
The dark horses have lived up to the bill so far with the usual favorites struggling to stamp their authority on the big stage. Defending champion Novak Djokovic and 2022 winner Carlos Alcaraz chalked up unusual second round exits in New York. Mental fatigue and a grueling schedule may have been a reason for the latter, but the Serb continued his dismal form at Grand Slam events this year.
As the year's final Major nears its end, let's find out who has the best chance to lift the title in the 2024 US Open. The final four this year features World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Jack Draper, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz. As per the bookies, Sinner is a 4:9 favorite to win the title meaning a $128 wager on the Italian will fetch 100$ plus the initial bet of $128.
Taylor Fritz is second in line with a 4:1 wager, Jack Draper in third with at 9:1 to win and Frances Tiafoe in fourth with a 14:1 chance of going the distance.
As for the All-American clash in the last four, Taylor Fritz has a 68% chance of winning against Frances Tiafoe. A $225 wager on Fritz would fetch 100$ plus the initial investment of $225. On the other hand, a $100 wager on Frances Tiafoe will fetch $180, plus the initial bet of $100 if he wins. It's no surprise that Fritz is a 2:1 favorite to enter the finals of the US Open.
The American has been one of the most consistent players on tour in recent times and also reached the quarterfinals in Melbourne and Wimbledon this year. While critics can argue about his lack of form during the business end at Majors, Fritz has lost three out of four quarterfinals against tennis legends Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
He would have hoped to enter the semifinals in Wimbledon this year, but was stunned by Italian talent Lorenzo Musetti in a thrilling five-set bout.
Tiafoe, meanwhile, is entering familiar territory on Saturday. The American will feature in his second semifinal at the US Open having previously lost to Carlos Alcaraz in 2022. He also reached the quarterfinals at the Flushing Meadows last year, but came up shy against Ben Shelton in a four-set bout.
Despite being inconsistent for most parts of the season, Tiafoe has a knack for rising up to the occasion when it matters. He's had an ordinary run at the Majors this year, picking up second round exits in the Australian Open and the 2024 French Open.
The American showed glimpses of form at Wimbledon but couldn't make a deep run, losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the third round. He will have a golden opportunity to enter the finals of the US Open on Saturday and stake his claim for the title.
Taylor Fritz leads the head-to-head against Tiafoe 6-1
Taylor Fritz dominates the head-to-head battle against Tiafoe. The 12th seed has defeated Tiafoe six times and only lost once to the American. He won their most recent encounter in the 2023 Mexican Open in straight sets.
The duo will take on each other at a Major for the second time on Saturday. They previously faced each other in the 2022 Australian Open, where Fritz outclassed Tiafoe in straight sets in the second round.
Will all previous meetings being on hard courts, Fritz will be a slight favorite to come out on top in New York. The home crowd can expect an end-to-end battle between two in-form players on the men's tour.