Frances Tiafoe secured his spot in the US Open semifinals for the second time in three years after his opponent, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, was forced to retire due to a leg injury. The match, which saw Tiafoe leading 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-1, was abruptly cut short when Dimitrov’s injury worsened during the fourth set.
Tiafoe will now face another American, 12th seed Taylor Fritz, in an all-American semifinal clash. This highly anticipated matchup will see both players vying to end a 21-year drought for American men’s singles champions at the US Open. The tournament has seen a flurry of upsets this year, leaving the door open for both Tiafoe and Fritz to make a strong run for the title.
Dimitrov, who had previously withdrawn from Wimbledon due to a groin injury, attempted to continue the match despite his leg injury. However, the pain became too much to bear, and he eventually retired after the third set.
Tiafoe, who has been in impressive form throughout the tournament, displayed both skill and sportsmanship during the match. He broke Dimitrov’s serve multiple times, showcasing his powerful backhand and consistent play. However, Dimitrov battled back in the second set, taking the tiebreak despite facing set points. The turning point came in the third set when Dimitrov injured his leg, ultimately forcing him to retire.
Despite the unfortunate circumstances of his victory, Tiafoe acknowledged the high level of play during the match and expressed sympathy for his opponent. He is now focused on his upcoming semifinal matchup against Fritz, a match he describes as the biggest of his career.
With both Tiafoe and Fritz aiming to make history, the all-American semifinal promises to be a thrilling and closely contested match.
