Photo: Getty Images
Frances Tiafoe is off to the U.S. Open Semifinals!
On Wednesday (September 7), the 24-year-old became the first American man to reach a U.S. Open semifinal in 16 years after he defeated world No. 11 Andrey Rublev. Tiafoe is now the youngest American man to make it to the U.S. Open semifinalist since Andy Roddick in 2016, and he is also the first Black American man to reach a U.S. Open semifinal since Arthur Ashe in 1972. Fittingly, the rising tennis star made history on the court named after Ashe on Wednesday.
Tiafoe's historic win follows his upset over world No. 3 Rafael Nadal on Monday (September 5).
“This is wild, crazy, biggest win of my life 24 hours ago and coming back with this,” Tiafoe, who danced after each match point, said following Wednesday's match. “This court is unbelievable. I feel at home. Let’s enjoy this one, but we got two more.”
Tiafoe will face the winner of Wednesday's Carlos Alcaraz-Jack Sinner match. The men’s semifinals are set to take place on Friday (September 9).
It should be noted that no American man has won the U.S. Open or any Grand Slam singles title since 2003.
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