US Open: Taylor Fritz is first American men’s finalist since 2006, faces No 1 Jannik Sinner
Not since Andy Roddick lost in four sets to Roger Federer in 2006 has an American man reached the final of a major on home soil
Taylor Fritz has become the first American man to reach the US Open final in 18 years after he defeated Frances Tiafoe in five sets in their semi-final showdown.
Having lost two of the first three sets, he came back from 40-15 down on Tiafoe’s serve at 5-4 in the fourth to take it to a fifth and never looked back.
However, lying in wait is world No 1 and Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner, who earlier beat Britain’s Jack Draper in straight sets.
Not since Andy Roddick lost in four sets to Roger Federer in 2006 has an American man reached the final of a major on home soil. Roddick was also the last American winner of the men’s singles event, when he beat Juan Carlos Ferrero in 2003.
The United States were guaranteed to have representation in the showpiece event after the compatriots faced off in the semi-finals, but it was Fritz who came out on top, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
“He overwhelmed me at the start and I was freaking out a little,” world No 12 Fritz said afterwards. “I just told myself to stay in it, hold serve and apply scoreboard pressure.
