"One of the most stressful matches I've ever played" - Taylor Fritz explains why winning US Open SF against Frances Tiafoe was a 'feelgood' moment
Taylor Fritz recently revisited his 2024 US Open semifinal win over compatriot Frances Tiafoe and rated it among the most nerve-wracking matches he has played so far in his career. The marathon five-set encounter eventually went Fritz's way, with the American reaching his maiden Grand Slam final and condemning Tiafoe to his second semifinal loss at Flushing Meadows.
Fritz and Tiafoe squared off in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday, September 6, with both hoping to be the first American to reach a Major final since Andy Roddick achieved the feat at the 2009 Wimbledon Championships. The eagerly-awaited all-American encounter did not disappoint as Tiafoe won the first and third sets and Fritz won the second and fourth to set up a fifth.
In the decisive fifth set, Fritz blew Tiafoe away, clinching a 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win to reach the US Open final. The epic contest lasted three hours and 18 minutes.
Taylor Fritz recently featured as a guest on the Nothing Major podcast where he had a candid conversation with American former ATP stars Jack Sock, Sam Querrey, and John Isner. During his appearance on the podcast, Fritz named his semifinal victory against Frances Tiafoe as his favorite US Open moment.
The World No. 7 laid bare the stress he experienced while playing the match because of the high stakes involved. Fritz also said that the two days that he had to prepare for the clash also contributed to his nerves.
"I'd say the biggest moment, like that feelgood moment was winning the semifinal match, and just it being over because that was genuinely one of the most stressful matches I've ever played, like, going into it," Taylor Fritz said.
"You also had to sit on it for two days after a quarterfinal match and I'm like, 'Oh, man! I'm playing Frances to make it to the finals'. Both of us are going to be so tight, like, we're both playing to be like the American to make it to the finals," Fritz added.
In the final, however, Fritz lost to Jannik Sinner in straight sets. Ahead of the final, Fritz was aiming to become the first American male player to win a Major since Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003.
Taylor Fritz was defeated by World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in US Open 2024 final
The top-ranked men's tennis player in the world, Jannik Sinner, was a cut above Taylor Fritz in the 2024 US Open final. The Italian stormed to a 6-3, 6-4 lead, leaving his American rival with a mountain to climb. Sinner was devastating from the baseline, and while Fritz tried his best, it just wasn't enough on the night to match the Italian's might.
The American did have a great chance of getting back into the contest in the third set after he broke Sinner to lead 5-3. However, that's as good as it got for Fritz as the Italian won the next four games on the spin to dash the home favorite's hopes.
After the match, Fritz apologized to the American fans during his post-match on-court interview. The silver lining for the American was that his Flushing Meadows run had catapulted him back into the top 10 of the ATP Tour rankings.