With another resounding victory against Andrey Rublev, Frances Tiafoe put American tennis to dream this Wednesday of closing almost two decades of drought at the US Open, qualifying for a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time in his career.
Two days after putting himself on the map by eliminating Rafael Nadal, Tiafoe today confirmed his title bid by wiping out Rublev in straight sets.
“Getting the biggest win of my life and now getting another big win…. It was difficult to turn the page, but I did it and now I’m in the semi-finals”, Tiafoe congratulated himself.
The American, number 26 in the world ranking and with only one ATP trophy (Delray Beach, 2018), beat the solvent Rublev (11th) 7-6 (3), 7-6 (0) and 6- 4 in jubilation at a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest tennis stadium on the planet.
“This is wild, it’s crazy,” he acknowledged after doing a little dance to celebrate the victory.
The burly player from Hyattsville, Maryland, is the first American to reach the US Open semifinals since Andy Roddick, who was a finalist in 2006 (loss to Roger Federer).
Since then, four other compatriots have given up in the quarterfinals, the last of them John Isner against the Argentine Juan Martín del Potro in 2018.
After taking down the giant Nadal, Tiafoe has gone for much more in Flushing Meadows, where the United States is eager to find a figure to fill the gap for the goodbye of Serena Williams.
“We’re going to enjoy. There are two more (victories) left, guys, two more”, encouraged Tiafoe, determined to follow in the footsteps of Roddick himself, the last American champion at Flushing Meadows in 2003.
Son of immigrants from Sierra Leone, the 24-year-old racket confirmed this Wednesday that his privileged physique has added security in decisive moments, an explosive cocktail that drove Rublev to tears, who still has not reached a Grand Slam semifinal.
