Taylor Fritz reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open on Friday, marking the first American man to do so since 2009.
Fritz secured his spot in the final by defeating Frances Tiafoe in a comeback victory, setting up a title clash with world number one Jannik Sinner. Fritz, currently ranked 12th worldwide, won the match with scores of 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. His opponent in the final, Sinner, also made history by becoming the first Italian man to reach the New York final after defeating Britain’s Jack Draper with scores of 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2.
Reflecting on his performance, 26-year-old Fritz expressed initial concern during the match but focused on maintaining his serve and applying pressure. “I did all I could to stay in it. I’d regret it forever if I hadn’t,” Fritz stated, determined to give his all in the final.
Meanwhile, Draper’s semifinal journey was marred by physical struggles, including anxiety-induced nausea on the court, leading to his defeat amidst 10 double faults and 43 unforced errors. Sinner praised the intense match and looked forward to the final challenge, acknowledging the tough competition and the significance of making it to the final round.
In a related event at the US Open, Lyudmyla Kichenok from Ukraine clinched a Grand Slam title in women’s doubles alongside Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, defeating Kristina Mladenovic and Zhang Shuai 6-4, 6-3. Kichenok shared a personal anecdote about postponing her wedding due to her progress in the tournament, emphasizing the unexpected scheduling shift that led to her Grand Slam victory.
