Like Draper before him, Tiafoe struck down by nerves in US Open semi-finals

Frances Tiafoe was once again a set away from reaching his first Grand Slam final. However, nerves got the best of him in a five-set loss to Taylor Fritz at the US Open.

Chryslene Caillaud / Panoramic

Ricky Dimon

September 7, 2024

There is just something different about the business end of a Grand Slam. Even when you have been there before, it is no easy situation to handle.

In the first US Open semi-final on Friday, Jack Draper lost to Jannik Sinner in straight sets and the Brit admitted afterward that his getting sick on the court multiple times could be attributed to anxiety and nerves. It was Draper’s first major semi-final appearance.

In the nightcap, Frances Tiafoe was playing in his second major semi — and second at the US Open. Despite having been on the same stage two years earlier, not even Tiafoe could overcome his nerves. The 26-year-old came within a set of his first slam title match — just as he did against Carlos Alcaraz two years earlier — but could not close out the match against fellow American Taylor Fritz. In the end, Fritz came back from two sets to one down to prevail 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

probably had a lot to do with nerves…. Ultimately I think nerves got the better of me tonight.
Frances Tiafoe

Like Draper, Tiafoe attributed his physical decline to mental fragility.

“I thought I was the better player for sure tonight,” the world No 20 assessed. “In the fourth (set), I don’t know, just had some in-and-out cramps. I just felt like my body just kind of shut down on me. Like, (it) probably had a lot to do with nerves. I wasn’t tired at all. Just, to get into the final, probably the closest I was obviously when I played Alcaraz I was kind of hanging for dear life to go five. Here I was really in a position to win…was almost able to be in that position.

“I have been feeling unbelievable physically. But also, I mean, it could be a testament to how many matches I’ve played in the short time and I haven’t played that many matches all year like that. Ultimately, yeah, I think nerves got the better of me tonight.”

Tiafoe and Fritz were both bidding to become the first American man to reach a Grand Slam singles final since 2009 and the first at the US Open since 2006. Instead of Tiafoe, it was Fritz who accomplished that feat and will have a chance to become the first American man to win a major since 2003.

For Tiafoe, it’s another lost opportunity.

“It’s tough,” he said. “It’s really, really tough — really, really tough to swallow. This one’s gonna hurt really, really bad.”