At home, the Americans shone with three victories in the quarter-finals of the US Open tennis tournament in New York on Tuesday, for Emma Navarro in the women’s category, as well as Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, who will face each other in the semi-finals in the men’s category.
Thanks to the first all-American men’s semi-final since 2005 (Andre Agassi against Robby Ginepri), the United States are certain to see a player in the final, a first in a men’s Grand Slam since Andy Roddick at Flushing Meadows in 2006.
To do this, Taylor Fritz (12th in the world) showed nerves of steel to defeat the German Alexander Zverev (4th), finalist in 2020, 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).
“It’s an incredible feeling. I’ve played quite a few quarter-finals in recent years and today (Tuesday) was not the same: I felt like it was really my day to go one more round. It’s good that it’s here, on this court (Arthur-Ashe), at the US Open, in front of my home crowd,” commented the 26-year-old Californian.
– Dimitrov gives up –
Fritz had already played four quarter-finals in Majors without going any further (Wimbledon 2022 and 2024, US Open 2023, Australian Open 2024).
Fritz relied in particular on an excellent serve, and will therefore play a first semi-final in a Major, against his compatriot Frances Tiafoe, who had already reached this level at the US Open in 2022.
Tiafoe (20th) had the match in hand, but took advantage of the withdrawal of the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (9th) at 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 4-1.
“Obviously it wasn’t the way I wanted to win even though I’m happy to qualify for the semis. It was a very high level match. You’re going to see me against another American, it’s going to be great! It’s going to be the biggest match of our careers, we’ve known each other since we were 14. I can’t be more impatient,” Tiafoe commented on the court.
Dimitrov retired, apparently with a left thigh injury. The Bulgarian had already been forced to retire in the last 16 at Wimbledon in July.
The intensity of the match played in the night session culminated in the tie-break of the 2nd set, which was initially superb, before ending with three double faults!
Trailing 4-1 at the start of the set, Dimitrov had recovered his late break and produced a sublime decisive game, using his silky one-handed backhand on a passing shot and then a winning return of serve. Leading 6 points to 3 with two serves, he then collapsed with two double faults, before Tiafoe himself gave him the set on a double fault.
Grimacing at times during the 3rd set, Dimitrov ended up throwing in the towel in the 4th set when he no longer seemed able to run.
– “US Open baby!” –
Two days after eliminating defending champion Coco Gauff, Emma Navarro continued her momentum and beat Spain’s Paula Badosa 6-2, 7-5 to also reach her first major semi-final.
“It’s crazy to have qualified for the semi-finals. US Open baby!” exclaimed the 23-year-old world number 12, who was keen to highlight the work she has been doing with her coach Peter Ayers “for eight years”.
On Thursday, she will face outgoing finalist Aryna Sabalenka (2nd), who easily beat Chinese Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen (7th) 6-1, 6-2, for a place in the final.
Already a two-time Major winner (Australian Open 2023 and 2024), qualified for the semi-final in New York for the 4th year in a row, the Belarusian will start as the big favourite in her semi-final against the inexperienced American.
Before this season, Navarro had not made it past the second round of a Major: this year, she reached the third round at the Australian Open, the round of 16 at Roland Garros, the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and therefore at least the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows, for her eighth Major.
To date, she won her first and only WTA title last January in Hobart (Australia, hard).
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