Tiafoe Ended Up Losing after he Thought he Was About to Beat Fritz at US Open

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Taylor Fritz (R) of the United States embraces Frances Tiafoe of the United States after defeating him in their Men's Singles Semifinal match on Day Twelve of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 06, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.   Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Taylor Fritz (R) of the United States embraces Frances Tiafoe of the United States after defeating him in their Men's Singles Semifinal match on Day Twelve of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 06, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP
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Tiafoe Ended Up Losing after he Thought he Was About to Beat Fritz at US Open

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Taylor Fritz (R) of the United States embraces Frances Tiafoe of the United States after defeating him in their Men's Singles Semifinal match on Day Twelve of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 06, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.   Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Taylor Fritz (R) of the United States embraces Frances Tiafoe of the United States after defeating him in their Men's Singles Semifinal match on Day Twelve of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 06, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP

Frances Tiafoe figures he lost to Taylor Fritz at the US Open because it suddenly occurred to him Friday night that he was close to winning and reaching his first Grand Slam final.

“In the past matches, before, I was only thinking about what it takes to win,” Tiafoe said, “rather than think about what’s potentially ahead.”

Tiafoe came within two games of claiming a victory in his all-American semifinal at Flushing Meadows, but dealt with a mix of cramps and nerves that played a role in his winding up on the short end of the 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 result against Fritz.

“Oh, man. It’s tough. It’s really, really tough. Really, really tough to swallow. This one’s gonna hurt really, really bad,” said Tiafoe, who also lost in five sets in the US Open semifinals two years ago against Carlos Alcaraz. “I mean, I thought I was the better player, for sure, tonight."

He was for a lot of the match, and after taking a two-sets-to-one lead, he was in good shape at 4-all in the fourth. But two consecutive double-faults helped hand Fritz that set, part of a six-game run that completely changed things, The Associated Press reported.

“Here I was, really in a position, to win, to see ahead — was almost able to be in that position,” Tiafoe said.
“Just had some in-and-out cramps,” he explained. “I just felt like my body just kind of shut down on me.”
Tiafoe, who is from Maryland, and Fritz, from California, are both 26 and have known each other for more than a decade.
But Fritz said he couldn't pick up any signs that Tiafoe was in distress.
“He did an incredibly good job of not showing me, to be honest,” said Fritz, who will face No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy in Sunday's final.
That will be Fritz's debut in a Grand Slam title match.
It could have been Tiafoe's.
“I just got ahead of myself. This stinks a bit — not a bit. This stinks a lot,” Tiafoe said. “But I’m going to learn from it and I will be better going forward, for sure.”



Top-seeds Sabalenka and Zverev Advance in Madrid

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after her victory over Elise Mertens of Belgium during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after her victory over Elise Mertens of Belgium during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
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Top-seeds Sabalenka and Zverev Advance in Madrid

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after her victory over Elise Mertens of Belgium during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after her victory over Elise Mertens of Belgium during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka rallied to defeat former doubles partner Elise Mertens in three sets and advance to the last 16 of the Madrid Open on Sunday.
Top-seeded Alexander Zverev scraped past Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after requiring tiebreakers in the final two sets of their match, while defending men's champion Andrey Rublev lost in three sets to Alexander Bublik.
Sabalenka got off to a poor start against the 26th-ranked Mertens, but picked up the pace to comfortably close out the match at the Caja Magica center court, The Associated Press reported.
The two-time champion in Madrid won 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 to keep alive her hopes of reaching the final for the third straight time. Sabalenka won the title in the Spanish capital in 2021 and 2023, and finished runner-up to Iga Swiatek last year.
“I think it’s one of those days where I didn’t feel my best and I got super emotional in that beginning of the first set and put myself in a tough situation," Sabalenka said. "I’m really happy that I was able to bring such a high level in the second and the third set, especially against someone like Elise, if you give her any chance, she’s going to be there fighting and putting you under pressure, so really happy with the way I turned around this game.”
It was Sabalenka's ninth consecutive victory over Mertens, her doubles partner while winning the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open. Sabalenka had won 14 consecutive sets against the Belgian.
“She’s such a great player, it doesn’t matter the score between us, it’s always a great battle," Sabalenka said.
Sabalenka will next face either Rebeka Masarova or Peyton Stearns.
Zverev struggled early but recovered to fend off a gritty performance by local favorite Davidovich Fokina in the third round. The second-ranked German needed tiebreakers to outlast the Spaniard 2-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (0).
Zverev, seeking his third Madrid Open title, has won seven matches in a row and is coming off a title-run in Munich.
“The first set wasn’t my best tennis but it is sport and it can change quickly,” Zverev said. “I was down a set and a break and I had to fight. I am very happy with the win. Alejandro is playing unbelievable tennis, the best of his life, so I am happy to be through.”
Zverev will face either Francisco Cerundolo or Francisco Comesaña.
Defending champion upset Defending champion Rublev was eliminated after a 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 loss to Bublik.
It was the 10th top-10 win for the 75th-ranked Bublik, who made it to the fourth round in Madrid for the fourth time.
Rublev did not have to play in the previous round because Gael Monfils withdrew with an illness.
The eighth-ranked Rublev beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in last year's final in the Spanish capital.
Bublik will next face Ben Shelton or Miami champion Jakub Mensik in the round of 16.
Brandon Nakashima got past Flavio Cobolli to reach the fourth round of a Master 1000 tournament for the fifth time. The 32nd-ranked American will next meet either Daniil Medvedev or Juan Manuel Cerundolo.