"If Carlos Alcaraz doesn't make it, that's not their problem" - Jimmy Connors speaks highly of Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz after US Open heroics
Jimmy Connors has hailed the successes of Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz at the recently-concluded 2024 US Open and urged American men's tennis players to draw inspiration from them. Both Tiafoe and Fritz reached the semifinals of the prestigious hardcourt Major, with the latter eventually making it to the final before losing to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the summit clash.
Tiafoe became a US Open semifinalist for the second time in his career this year, having previously reached the same stage in the 2022 edition of the Grand Slam. Meanwhile, for Taylor Fritz, the 2024 US Open was full of personal milestones, as it marked the first time thar he sealed his spot in the semifinals of a Major and then went on to reach the final as well after defeating Tiafoe.
Tiafoe and Fritz's semifinal meeting at Flushing Meadows marked the first time since 2005 that two American men contested a last-four clash at a Major. 19 years ago, it was Andre Agassi who squared off against Robby Ginepri in the US Open semifinals. Agassi emerged as the winner on that occasion but eventually went on to lose to Roger Federer in the final.
Recently, the legendary Jimmy Connors assessed Tiafoe and Fritz's performances at the 2024 US Open in an episode of the Advantage Connors podcast. Connors lauded the all-American duo's displays and opined that their deep runs at Flushing Meadows were results of their hard work and commitment to improving their respective games.
"It's been a while (since two American men featured in the semis of a Grand Slam), right? We haven't had a men's champion since (Andy) Roddick in 2003. For two Americans to be in the semis was pretty exciting and it goes to show, when you stay in there, you keep grinding, you keep training, you keep working, you keep sacrificing and you keep doing what's best to try to make you better everyday, good things happen," Connors said (at 28:39).
"So what happens? They might be playing their best tennis. Alcaraz might have been in there. He lost. That's not their fault. If he doesn't make it that's not their problem, but they were prepared and playing the kind of tennis necessary to get to that point, which is great," Connors added.
The eight-time Grand Slam champion went on to urge Tiafoe, Fritz and other American men's singles players to continue in the same vein at future Majors.
"Listen, the (American) men need to start moving forward like they have and prove that they're worthy of that semifinal and final berth now every time they go out there and play. And tennis is a 365-days-per-year job and you can't live off of one result. That one result, as great as it was, is over now," he concluded.
However, despite the promising nature of Fritz's run to the US Open final, his performance against Sinner in the final left a lot to be desired.
Taylor Fritz's maiden Grand Slam final outing at US Open 2024 ended in disappointing straight-set loss to Jannik Sinner
There was hope that Taylor Fritz would finally be able to end the Grand Slam drought for American men at this year's US Open. However, as the final unfolded, it became evident that World No. 1 Jannik Sinner's level was simply too high for Fritz to deal with.
Sinner stormed to a 6-3, 6-4 lead, and even though Fritz put up an admirable fight in the third set, at the end of the day, it wasn't enough to help him stay in the contest. Ultimately, the Italian clinched the third set 7-5 and dashed Fritz's hopes.
Later, during the post-match on-court interview, a crestfallen Fritz apologized to American fans over his inability to end the 21-year-long Major drought for men's singles players from the USA.