The 2024 US Open men’s and women’s singles tournaments have produced some surprises at the end, with new names making deep runs to get to the semifinals. In the women’s draw, Jessica Pegula, making her first Grand Slam final appearance, will take on Aryna Sabalekena for the title on Saturday, and the men’s tournament will have an American player also making their first major final.
The men’s semfinals on Friday began with No. 1 Jannik Sinner beating No. 25 Jack Draper in straight sets 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-2, but it was by no means as easy as the score implies.
The match was played in scorching New York City heat, with both players fighting off fatigue. Draper had the worst of it, sweating through his first two shirts and appearing to vomit twice during a grueling second set. That set wound up lasting an hour and 29 minutes, the second-longest of the entire tournament.
Not helping was the fact that both men played their quarterfinal matches just a day earlier.
Sinner displayed the form you’d expect from a top seed, even after appearing to hurt his wrist during the second set. His serve was fantastic, winning 76% of points off it, and he won more than his share of entertaining points against the 22-year-old Draper.
Sinner advances to his first US Open final, having already won his first Grand Slam this year at the Australian Open. He figures to be favored on Sunday no matter which American he’s facing.
Semifinal No. 2 pits two Americans against each other as No. 12 Seed Taylor Fritz takes on No. 20 Seed Frances Tiafoe. Fritz is in the US Open semis — and any Grand Slam semi — for the first time, while Tiafoe has made it to the final four in New York for a second time. He bowed out to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller in 2022.
Both took out top-10 players in the quarterfinals, with Fritz toppling No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev and Tiafoe bouncing No. 9 Grigor Dimitrov.
Location: Arthur Ashe Stadium | New York, NY
TV Channel: ESPN
Stream: Fubo, ESPN+
Stay with Yahoo sports of live coverage of the 2024 US Open men’s singles semifinals.
Live74 updates
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Tiafoe-Fritz going to a fifth set
Fritz breaks Tiafoe’s serve and this match is going to a fifth set. Fritz wins the fourth, 6-4.
This one seemed destined for five sets from the start and it is not disappointing.
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Fritz goes up 5-4
Fritz has seemingly abandoned trying to play the net as hard, trying instead to force the action at Tiafoe with hard drives from the baseline. It appears to be working as he goes up 5-4 in the set with Tiafoe now serving.
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How even has this match been?
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Fritz toughing it out
This is a different kind of endurance match than the earlier semifinal when humidity bogged Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper down. Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz are going toe to toe,
Fritz, however, goes in front 4-3 after Tiafoe pushed back to make it 3-3. This match is beginning to look like it’s headed toward a fifth set.
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Fritz takes 2-1 lead
Fritz once again held serve, matching Tiafoe on nearly every return. He’s not going away in this fourth set, nor should Tiafoe expect him to.
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Fritz holds to begin fourth set
Fritz isn’t backing down to begin the fourth set. He’s won four points with his first four serves. That might be how he regains control of the match from Tiafoe.
The two had one of the best exchanges of the match, going back and forth on several returns before Fritz finally won the point for a 2-1 lead.
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Tiafoe wins third set, 6-4
Fritz holds serve to get within 5-4. But Tiafoe wins set point, again backing Fritz up with his serve.
Whether he’s tiring out or just can’t regain control of the pace, Tiafoe appears to be gaining control of the match as it heads to the fourth set.
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Fritz can’t break Tiafoe’s serve
Tiafoe’s serve is frequently jamming Fritz up so he can’t return it. Fritz hasn’t been able to catch up to Tiafoe’s cross-court forehand either. Tiafoe takes a 5-3 lead as Fritz goes to serve.
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Fritz playing net more in third set
Rather than staying back as he did, especially in the first set, Fritz is playing the net more aggressively in the third set. Yet he’s playing more defense as Tiafoe holds serve and takes a 3-1 lead.
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Tiafoe breaks Fritz to begin third set
Tiafoe could not break Fritz’s serve during the second set, but begins the third set by doing just that.
Just when it looks like one player might be gaining an advantage, the other recovers. Truly a back and forth battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium thus far.
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Fritz takes second set, 7-5
Fritz’s game at the net is holding off Tiafoe’s returns. He won nine of 10 points, preventing Tiafoe from getting a tiebreaker and taking the second set, 7-5.
This match is even heading to a third set.
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Fritz can’t put away match point
With Fritz serving for match point, Tiafoe finds another gear to cross the court repeatedly for returns and won two points to tie the set at 5-5.
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Fritz has Tiafoe running
This time, it’s Fritz who has Tiafoe running back and forth on the court trying to keep up with his return and a blistering forehand. Tiafoe nearly goes into the stands attempting to catch up to a volley and Fritz capitalizes.
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Fritz holds serve
Fritz may have taken control of the set, holding serve for a 5-4 lead. But it’s been a back and forth match thus far. The way it’s been going, Tiafoe could tie it up on his next serve.
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Tiafoe’s backhand looking lethal
Tiafoe wins the point to even the set at 4-4. His backhand has been particularly strong, scorching the ball cross-court out of Fritz’s reach.
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Neither player yielding on serve
Are we heading toward a five-set match? It’s beginning to look that way as both Fritz and Tiafoe are holding serve. Possible tiebreak coming up as Fritz leads 4-3. Tiafoe to serve.
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Both players controlling serve
Fritz is having difficulty returning Tiafoe’s serve. When he does recover, he’s not in position to get to Tiafoe’s shots. Tiafoe drops a short shot at the net as Fritz is backed up far, hoping to handle Tiafoe’s return.
However, Fritz is nearly as efficient with his serve and has a 3-2 lead as Tiafoe goes to serve.
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Fritz composes himself to begin second set
Fritz held serve to begin the second set, getting four of five to win the first game. He appears to have righted himself after letting the first set get away from him. He takes 2-1 lead as Tiafoe is set to serve.
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Tiafoe wins match point, first set 6-4
Tiafoe wins the final two points of the set and completed an impressive rally. His forehand is putting Fritz back on his feet, making it difficult to recover for the next return.
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Tiafoe up 5-3
Did we say Tiafoe was off to a shaky start? That now seems like a long time ago. He’s taken control of this first set, pushing Fritz back with his forehand, sending him back and forth with returns and playing out extending rallies. He’s won five straight points.
