Tiafoe, on Brutal US Open Loss: “It Won’t Happen Again”

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday September 7, 2024

New York—After Frances Tiafoe melted down and misplaced eight of the final 9 video games in his 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 loss to Taylor Fritz in Friday evening’s US Open males’s singles semifinal, the 26-year-old had one factor on his thoughts: ensuring it doesn’t occur once more.

Tiafoe, who was two video games from victory at one level within the fourth set, tossed in back-to-back double-faults and ended up committing 4 consecutive unforced errors to giftwrap the fourth set for Fritz.

He later admitted that he was struggling bodily points, seemingly cramping on account of anxiousness and stress.

“It was extra later in that set at 5-4, double-double, I am getting damaged there,” he mentioned. “I sort of felt there out of nowhere, simply cramps out of nowhere. I felt tremendous. It wasn’t even actually heat or humid tonight.

“I simply assume the second, I received forward of myself, and one thing I am positively going to study for. Promise not gonna occur to me once more.”

It was a shocking turnaround, particularly given simply how nicely Tiafoe had performed. Fritz mentioned he felt overwhelmed by Tiafoe’s degree and was simply making an attempt to hold on and apply scoreboard stress to his rival.

Taylor Fritz outlasted Frances Tiafoe on this epic 4th set rally.

He received 9 of the following 11 video games. pic.twitter.com/qyvJWjtsuI

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2024

Tiafoe, who has now dropped seven consecutive selections to Fritz, says he plans to complete the season sturdy.

“I’ll let this sting, however I am gonna study from this,” he mentioned. “You already know, I am gonna work actually onerous. I’ll be in these positions once more, for certain. Simply hoping for a special consequence.”

Regardless of the loss, the 26-year-old sees the US Open as a giant second for American tennis.

“I believe it opened the floodgates for certain,” he mentioned. “I believe guys are gonna begin believing they’ll go deep in slams. Tommy [Paul] has already made semis of slams, Ben [Shelton] as nicely, clearly him beating me final 12 months right here within the quarters. Fritz, now he is made the finals. None of us youthful guys have carried out that.

“See what occurs on Sunday, however I believe a variety of guys are going to have the ability to assume they’ll do it, particularly on this one the place later within the season, stuff like that with American crowds and what have you ever. I believe it is large. It exhibits that it is positively attainable. As I mentioned, once more, the sport’s open. Even with Alcaraz and Sinner and these different guys, it is not what it was.”