Tennis News

When is the US Open final?

Chasing history, American Taylor Fritz will face No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings Jannik Sinner in the US Open final in New York at 2 p.m. EDT/ 8 p.m. CET. on Sunday on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Fritz is aiming to become the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2003, while he is the first American man to compete in a Slam final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009.

On the other side of the net, Sinner will try to clinch his second major, having lifted the Australian Open trophy in January. The pair enter the final locked at 1-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

For more information on how to watch the final, click here.

Source link

Tiafoe on US Open SF loss: 'This one is going to hurt really bad'

Frances Tiafoe was not quick to shy away from his feelings on Friday following his devastating five-set defeat to countryman Taylor Fritz at the US Open.

The American, who was competing in his second major semi-final, led 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, but ultimately fell short. Tiafoe struggled with cramping in the deciding set and was unable to drag himself across the finish line.

“It’s really, really tough. Really, really tough to swallow. This one is going to hurt really, really bad,” Tiafoe said in his post-match press conference. “I thought I was the better player for sure. In the fourth, I don’t know, I just had some in-and-out cramps. I just felt my body kind of shut down on me.

“It probably had a lot to do with nerves. I wasn’t tired at all. Just, to get into the final, probably the closest I was obviously when I played [Carlos] Alcaraz I was hanging for dear life to go five. Here I was really in a position to win. I was almost able to be in that position.

“I have been feeling unbelievable physically. But also it could be a testament to how many matches I’ve played in the short time and I haven’t played that many matches all year like that. Ultimately, I think nerves got the better of me tonight.”

Tiafoe drank fluids and salts during the changeovers in the fourth and fifth sets but they ultimately did not help him overcome Fritz, who is aiming to become the first American to win a major since Andy Roddick in 2003.

“I tried to give everything for the fifth set. I tried a bunch of different things. I had a bunch of pickle juice, I was gargling and spitting it out. I was eating, doing kind of everything I could,” Tiafoe said. “Obviously just trying to give it one last shot, right? It was the fifth set of a semis of a slam, try to give it everything you got. Sometimes it’s not meant to be.”

With his run to the semis, Tiafoe has climbed four spots to No. 16 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is up to 14th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, keeping alive an outside chance of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals.

In time, the 26-year-old believes he can take the positives from his run.

“For a really, really long time, obviously this is going to hurt. I’m going to turn the page, I’m going to try to end the year strong. I’m going to go to Asia, do the whole thing, do it the right way,” said Tiafoe, who also reached the final in Cincinnati last month. “I’m going to go to Laver Cup and compete. I’m going to let this sting, but I’m going to learn from this. I’m going to work really hard. I’m going be in these positions again, for sure. Just hoping for a different outcome.”

Source link

Fritz on reaching US Open final: 'It is a lifelong dream come true'

Delight, pride, relief. All emotions which were evident on Taylor Fritz’s face Friday night at the US Open after he reached his first major final. Following his epic five-set win against countryman Frances Tiafoe, the American opened up on the joy he was feeling following the biggest victory of his career.

“It hit me when he [Eubanks] said the thing about how I’m in the finals and the crowd was cheering,” Fritz said in his post-match press conference. “It’s just kind of like how I am. I’m more of an emotional person when I’m happy. When I’m really happy I cry at happy endings of movies and not at sad stuff. That’s kind of just how I am.

“It’s just joy, the crowd cheering and kind of that realisation, like ‘Wow, I’m in the finals of the US Open. It’s such a lifelong dream come true. Something I’ve worked my whole life for to be in this situation. I think just kind of like realising that got me a little bit choked up.”

Fritz is now just one win away from ending the United States’ 21-year wait for a male major singles champion. The last man to do so was Andy Roddick at Flushing Meadows in 2003.

Fritz is excited about the current state of American tennis, with Friday’s opponent Tiafoe as well as Tommy Paul, Sebastian Korda, Ben Shelton all inside the Top 17 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

“I think it gives hope and shows that we’re knocking on the door of winning a Slam, and we have this generation, this group of guys where there’s four or five of us that are actually at this level,” Fritz said.

“I mean, it shows that we’re all moving in the right direction. I think that whenever one of us does something, the others follow, and the others get belief from it. I think this is just the start for all of us.”

Fritz battled hard against Tiafoe and was staring defeat in the face when he trailed 4-6, 7-5, 4-6 in front of an electric crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium. However, the 12th seed dug deep and turned the match around.

Fritz, who is up five spots to No. 7 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, is pleased with the resilience he showed.

“I think one thing that’s never been in question is just like my heart and how I’m always going to compete no matter what,” said Fritz, who leads Tiafoe 7-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“What I just kept telling myself was just to keep fighting and to keep working, and if I don’t give it everything I have and just lock in as much as I possibly can, I’m going to regret it forever… I had to stay with him in some of those really long, crazy rallies, because I wanted to show him that I wasn’t going to go away, that I was feeling fit and I was going to keep running for everything and fighting for every point.”

On Sunday, Fritz will be the first American man to compete in a major final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner stands between Fritz and glory, but the 26-year-old is feeling confident about his chances.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing him. To be honest, I don’t think that I’m going to be put in a more stressful situation than I was today than playing in a final. I think today was much more stressful for me than playing the final. I just feel good,” Fritz said. “I have a feeling I’m going to come out and play really well and win. When I play good tennis, I think that level is good enough to win.”

Sinner and Fritz are tied at 1-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. The final will take place on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday from 2 p.m. EDT/ 8 p.m. CET.

Source link

Fritz ends 15-year American wait for male Slam singles finalist

Taylor Fritz becomes the first American man in 15 years to reach a Grand Slam singles final as he beats compatriot Frances Tiafoe at the US Open.

Source link

Fritz rallies past Tiafoe to reach first Grand Slam final at US Open

Taylor Fritz is one win away from ending the United States’ 21-year-wait for a male Grand Slam singles champion.

The 12th seed rallied past longtime friend and fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Friday evening to reach his first major final at the US Open. Andy Roddick triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2003. Now Fritz will have a chance to earn his own Grand Slam glory on Sunday when he takes on top seed Jannik Sinner for the trophy.

“It’s the reason I do what I do, the reason why I work so hard. I’m in the finals of the US Open,” Fritz said as he teared up. “It’s a dream come true and I’m going to give it everything I possibly have. I know that for a fact.”

Through to the biggest final of his career 🤩@Taylor_Fritz97 knocks out Tiafoe 4-6 7-5 4-6 6-4 6-1.@usopen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/CyQGm1CbWq

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 7, 2024

The 26-year-old arrived in New York with one win across ATP Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati. But that has not proven a problem for Fritz, who is the first American male to make a major singles final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009.

The golden opportunity at his home Slam seemed to be slipping away. After winning the second set under the New York lights, Tiafoe, who does as well as anyone on Tour to use the crowd to his advantage, harnessed the atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium to take control of the match.

The three-time ATP Tour titlist was preventing Fritz from dominating the action with his power and was two games from making his own history. With tennis legends in the stands including Roddick, Stan Smith and Tracy Austin, as well as celebrities ranging from Travis Scott and Fat Joe to basketball players Tyrese Maxey and John Wall, Tiafoe also enjoyed most of the crowd’s support.

But after nine games without a break point in the fourth set, Tiafoe badly mishit a forehand to suddenly give Fritz a set point, and then missed a forehand drop shot — one of several poor drop shots in the match — to send the clash into a deciding set.

Fritz seized the momentum and never looked back. The 12th seed hit a big backhand return, which Tiafoe was unable to handle, in his first return game of the fifth set to break. Although he let slip a double-break advantage with a double fault later on, that proved a momentary blip. 

If the fifth-placed player in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin is one thing, he is a relentless competitor. He does not have the flare of Tiafoe nor does he show the same level of emotion. But Fritz always battles back.

After losing his first four major quarter-finals, including two earlier this year, Fritz broke his duck against two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion and 2020 US Open finalist Alexander Zverev three days ago. Despite the deficit against Tiafoe, who was opportunistic to convert four of his five break points, Fritz never showed signs of panic, even if he was overwhelmed on the inside.

“I felt I wasn’t doing anything wrong, I was just getting overwhelmed,” Fritz said. “I was freaking out a little bit and [coach Michael Russell] told me to keep doing what I was doing, accept it was okay and keep making him do it. That helped to calm me down and let me know I was doing the right thing.”

The eight-time ATP Tour titlist continued to play hard and won 25 of the 34 points in the deciding set, claiming eight of the final nine games to triumph in three hours and 18 minutes. 

“He was overwhelming from the baseline so much, taking the ball so early, changing lines so well,” Fritz said of Tiafoe’s aggressive approach. “I just told myself to try to stay in it, fight to hold my serve and apply scoreboard pressure as much as possible.”

Fritz will take a 1-1 Lexus ATP Head2Head record into his showdown with Sinner, who won his first Grand Slam title earlier this year at the Australian Open. He earned the opportunity with a courageous comeback in the biggest moment of his career.

Fritz said: “I told myself if I didn’t give it absolutely everything I had and stick with it and see if his level might drop a little bit, I would regret it for a long time.”

Tiafoe began his season with a 19-18 record. But since arriving in Cincinnati, he has reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final and second US Open semi-final to improve to 29-20.

Did You Know?
This was the first all-American men’s singles semi-final at a major since Andre Agassi beat Robby Ginepri at the US Open in 2003.

Source link

Draper: ‘I’m breaking barriers of what I think is possible’

Jack Draper lost a hard-fought battle to Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of the US Open on Friday. But he was happy with his run in New York and had positive takeaways from his first semi-final at a Grand Slam tournament, despite the 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-2.

“When I came here last year I was 120 in the world, barely played the whole season. I think I’ll be leaving here this week Top 20,” he said. “I’m breaking new barriers down the whole time of what I think is possible.”

The 22-year-old Brit had not dropped a set before the semi-finals. He became the first man since Daniil Medvedev in 2020 to do so. Despite battling the pressure and New York’s muggy conditions, he left everything on the court, even as he struggled physically against the World No. 1.

“I think it was obviously a very physical match. Obviously, that’s why Jannik is the No. 1 player in the world because when you play the top players, the intensity is different… it’s a step up,” he shared.

“I think obviously it’s a big occasion for me. I definitely felt more excited today, a few more nerves around.”

Visibly hampered by the conditions on Arthur Ashe, he vomited thrice during the match and received a medical timeout in the second set. The Brit acknowledged that the pressure contributed to his physical discomfort, but that the thought of tapping out of the match didn’t enter his mind.

“No, no, no, I’m not going to retire in the semis of a Grand Slam,” he said. “I know the last set, it probably looked liked from courtside or on TV that it was not a great look. But at the end of the day, I always try and give my best

“I’m definitely someone who is, I think, quite an anxious human being. I think when you add all that together sometimes I do feel a bit nausea on court, and I do feel a little bit sick when it gets tough.

“I didn’t have any problems before the match, but it obviously just built up.”

After the match, Draper was all praise for his good friend Sinner, who will play for his second Grand Slam title of the season against American No. 20 Frances Tiafoe or No. 12 Taylor Fritz. The 22-year-old had won their only previous meeting at the cinch Championships in 2021.

“Jannik’s got huge experience already. The reason why he’s No. 1 in the world (and) barely losing matches is because he’s so consistent. His intensity, his ball speed, he has barely got any weaknesses, and he’s just able to be there point by point and raise his level when he needs to.

“Mentally, physically, emotionally, everything’s constantly improving, and he’s rock solid in all areas. He’s tough to beat.”

After an inspiring run to the semi-finals, Draper has risen to a career-high No. 20 in the PIF ATP Rankings. He became the first Brit to reach the semi-finals of the US Open since Andy Murray clinched the title in 2012.

Source link

Sickness 'worst feeling' but Slam success close – Draper

Jack Draper says being sick on court in his US Open semi-final defeat was “the worst feeling ever”, but Grand Slam success is “just a matter of time”.

Source link

Sinner takes 'wait-and-see' approach with wrist

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner may be in for a restless sleep tonight after advancing Friday to the US Open final.

But it won’t be the nerves of contending for his second Grand Slam title of the season that are likely to put him into a cold sweat. Wondering how his wrist will feel in the morning after a mid-match fall during his straight-sets win over Jack Draper will be his major concern.

At 4-all in the second set Sinner extended his left arm to cushion his fall to the court. He looked in discomfort after the tumble and received treatment from the physio at the change of ends.

In his post-match press conference, Sinner said that he was not in too much distress as he continued the match, but would reserve judgment on whether he had escaped serious damage until he woke up Saturday morning.

“The physio loosened it up very fast on court, so after I felt okay in the beginning. Then after it went away by playing, which is good,” Sinner said.

“Let’s see how it is tomorrow when it’s cold. It’s gonna be a different feeling. Hopefully is nothing to concern about. I’m quite relaxed, because if it’s something bad, you feel it straightaway a bit more.”

Sinner will face the winner of tonight’s semi-final between Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe.

Asked to weigh in on his potential opponent, Sinner spoke first of Fritz. “Well, big serve. Very solid player from the back of the court. He can hit strong. He can hit with rotation. He can mix up the game very well. He has played a lot this year, so he has a lot of rhythm of the match.

“If it’s Frances, we just played the final in Cincinnati. He’s a very good mover, a good serve also. He can mix up the game with the slice. You know, he’s coming a little bit more to the net than Taylor.

“So it’s a bit slightly different two players, but yeah, I’m just looking forward for Sunday, and then we see how it goes.”

Regardless of whom he meets, Sinner knows that his opponent will have overwhelming support from New York fans.

“Whoever I play, being in America for sure the crowd will be a little bit more on their side.

“But it’s normal. It’s like when I play in Italy, so I’m gonna accept that. I have my team and my people who are close to me. In my mind, I know that there are many people watching from home from Italy, and it’s just take some support from them.”

Source link

Sick Draper loses to Sinner in dramatic US Open semi-final

Britain’s Jack Draper vomits on court during a dramatic US Open semi-final defeat by world number one Jannik Sinner.

Source link

Sabalenka takes on Pegula and crowd in US Open final

Aryna Sabalenka will have to deal with a boisterous New York crowd when she faces home hope Jessica Pegula in Saturday’s US Open final.

Source link