NEW DELHI: With Bulgarian
Grigor Dimitrov
retiring from their match due to injury, American
Frances Tiafoe
advanced to the
US Open
semifinal for the second time in three years on Tuesday, trailing 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3 4-1 in
New York
.
Next up for Tiafoe is an all-American match against 12th seed
Taylor Fritz
, with both players looking to end a 21-year US men's major drought in a competition where many of the top seeds were eliminated early, as per Reuters.
The ninth-seeded Dimitrov, who had an injury that forced him to quit during his Wimbledon fourth-round match against
Daniil Medvedev
this year, departed the match after the third set to receive medical attention. He struggled through a few games in discomfort while his team persuaded him to give up.
The audience was already beginning to disperse from
Arthur Ashe Stadium
when Tiafoe celebrated quietly and gave his opponent a hug near the net.
"It was a really, really high-level match," said Tiafoe. "Obviously I didn't want to end it like that."
In the fifth game, Tiafoe broke his opponent with a brilliantly placed backhand winner. On the fourth set point, Dimitrov smashed a forehand into the net, giving Tiafoe another break. Tiafoe was playing at an incredible level.
After leading 4-1 in the second set, Tiafoe appeared to be winning easily, but Dimitrov rallied in the seventh game as the American's unintentional mistakes started to mount up.
Before Tiafoe gave it to him on set point with a double fault of his own, Dimitrov won four straight games to lead 6-3 in the tiebreak. However, he almost let it get away from him with two double faults.
Dimitrov winced after stepping awkwardly along the baseline in the penultimate game, giving Tiafoe a 2-1 lead and giving up a break in the third set.
Before the fourth set, Dimitrov hobbled off the court to see the physiotherapist. He was shaking his head throughout the opening game of the match.
The 20th seed, who defeated Ben Shelton in a thrilling five-set third-round battle, will now take on another American Fritz in the greatest match of his life.
"I can't be more excited," said Tiafoe. "I know we're two Americans but I hope you're with me come Friday.
English (US) ·