Fritz & Tiafoe make American history at US Open

There will be an all-American men’s semi-final at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since the 2005 US Open.

Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe will meet in the last four at the US Open on Friday, guaranteeing that one of the home stars will become a first-time major finalist. The winner will become the first American man to make a Slam singles final since 2009 Wimbledon (Andy Roddick, l. to Federer).

All-American Grand Slam Men's Singles SF or F (since 2000)

Fritz defeated fourth seed Alexander Zverev 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) in Tuesday’s first quarter-final before Tiafoe set a showdown against his countryman. He led Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-1 when the ninth seed retired.

The last time there was an all-American men’s semi-final at a major, 19 years ago at Flushing Meadows, Andre Agassi defeated Robby Ginepri 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

There have only been two other all-American men’s Slam semi-finals this millennium. Pete Sampras beat Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in the 2002 US Open final and Agassi clawed past Sampras 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(0), 7-6(5), 6-1 in the 2000 Australian Open semi-finals.

The winner between Fritz and Tiafoe will play in Sunday’s final in an attempt to become the first American man to win a major singles title since Andy Roddick lifted the 2003 US Open trophy.

Fritz leads Tiafoe 6-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. They most recently clashed last year in Acapulco, where Fritz was victorious 6-3, 6-4.