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France Tiafoe US Open 2022
ATP Tennis Players, Tennis News, US Open Tennis

Frances Tiafoe ends 50-year hiatus and gets his wish for US Open opponent


Frances Tiafoe has become the first American man into the semi-finals of the US Open since Andy Roddick back in 2006 after downing Andrey Rublev in straight sets in front of an electric Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. 

Moreover, the 24-year-old is the first African-American man to make it to the semi-finals in New York since none other than Ashe himself, who last reached that stage at the 1972 event before losing in the final to Ilie Nastase.

Ashe won the title in 1968, the first edition of the tournament in the Open Era, though he officially received no prize money for the title as he registered as an amateur for the event.

50 years on, Tiafoe has earned US$705,000 by making it to the last four, and will be ranked at least 19th in the world on Monday, his first foray into the ATP top 20.

 

 

Were he to win the title he would sit on the cusp of the top 10 at 11th, just behind Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. In his post-match press conference, Tiafoe was asked of his prospective opponent before Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner took to court in the second night session match.

“I think it’s going to be a great match. I don’t really have a preference,” he admitted. “Either guy is going to be tough. They’re both great players.

“I just hope they play a marathon match, super-long match, and they get really tired come Friday,” he continued, smiling.

Well, Tiafoe got his wish as the pair played for over five hours in the second longest contest in the history of the US Open.

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