Tiafoe, after beating Dimitrov: “It’s almost like a joke that Frances wakes up in August”

The American made his second Grand Slam semi-final on Tuesday, after Grigor Dimitrov retired in the fourth set

Chryslene Caillaud / Panoramic

September 4, 2024

Frances Tiafoe may have booked his place in a second Grand Slam semi-final in unfortunate circumstances – with Grigor Dimitrov retiring in the fourth set (6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-1) – but the American is focused on one thing: winning.

The world No 20 has completely flipped the narrative surrounding his season, making his first Masters 1000 final – in Cincinnati – and his second last four appearance in New York within the last three editions.

Speaking to the media after securing his place in the semi-finals, Tiafoe assessed the level throughout the match:

“Yeah, I mean, definitely abrupt ending, but I thought the level was really high there for two-and-a-half sets, three sets, whatever the case may be. Really, really high. I thought my game plan was perfect. I let him in there in the second a little bit, but I thought I just kept going, thought I applied pressure really well. Thought I played well. The only thing, serve again wasn’t where I wanted to be. Gave him a lot of second-serve looks. Just got to do better on that front. Everything else, I returned great, I moved really well tonight, and I made him earn a lot of points, which is great. Ultimately, man, I don’t really have that much to say. Super happy to be in another semi.”

the level was really high there for two-and-a-half sets, three sets

The American had a tough start to 2024, struggling to consistently win back-to-back matches, but has shown some of his finest form in the last few weeks, claiming ten match victories in his last two events. In 2022, when Tiafoe made the semi-finals of the US Open for the first time, it was a similar story, with the atmosphere and environment of the season’s last seemingly providing extra motivation.

The No 20 also elaborated on this, even cracking a joke along the way:

“I’ll never be excited to play in the States than I would be to play, like, in Madrid. That’s just not happening. The only place outside of the States where I feel really, really good to play is at Wimbledon, Queen’s, you know, on the grass where it’s, like, really fun to play and they really embrace me a lot out there. It’s just too hard, man. You see when you’re out here playing, it’s madness out here. Like, what’s going on, bro? It’s crazy. It’s too hard to replicate. You get so excited. Watched it as a kid.”

“I’m just really focused, man. I’m locked in. I’m having fun. I’m not putting so much pressure on myself. I’m kind of just going in, battling. I’ve been producing some really nice stuff. You know, it’s almost like a joke that Frances wakes up in August. We’ll see how my career going forward with that.”

At least one American is guaranteed to make the men’s singles final, with Tiafoe facing Taylor Fritz whose quarter-final victory marked the best result in his Grand Slam career. The two have met on seven occasions, with Tiafoe claiming the first victory before Fritz ran away with head-to-head, winning their last clash in Acapulco last year (6-3, 6-4).

Asked about what he needs to change, the two-time semi-finalist stated that the circumstances of their next match is incomparable to any of their previous meetings:

“It’s different on Ashe, man. It’s different. Obviously you have to learn from those (losses). You know, I mean, couple of those I thought I actually should have won. He’s tough, man. He’s a tough player. He plays great from both sides, has a great serve, he’s moving much better now. It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be a big one for both of us, playing for a final. I don’t think those matches are anywhere near what this match would be, so it’s kind of tough to even go from there. Playing quarters of Acapulco 500 and playing semis at Arthur Ashe at night — well, hopefully at night — it’s a little different. It’s a little different. You know, I mean, it’s going to be interesting, man. We’ll see what happens.”

It’s different on Ashe, man. It’s different.

The two meet on Friday in what will be the biggest match of their careers, and move themselves to within one match victory from a maiden Grand Slam title.