The No.12-seeded Fritz's momentum-shift-filled victory against No.20 Tiafoe - a pair of 26-year-olds who are close pals and have known each other since they were younger than 14 - earned a showdown against world No.1 Jannik Sinner for the championship on Sunday (Monday AEST).
Fritz will be the first US man to appear in a major final since Andy Roddick lost to Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2009. And if he can get past Sinner, Fritz would become the first man from the US to win a slam trophy since Roddick got his 21 years ago in New York.
"It's the reason why I do what I do," Fritz said, his voice cracking. "It's the reason why I work so hard."
Taylor Fritz outlasted Frances Tiafoe in this epic 4th set rally.— US Open Tennis (@usopen) He won 9 of the next 11 games. pic.twitter.com/qyvJWjtsuISeptember 7, 2024
It was the 12-seeded Fritz's seventh victory in eight professional meetings against Tiafoe.
"He was overwhelming from the baseline so much ... and I just tried to tell myself to stay in it and fight," said Fritz, who was two games from losing in the fourth set.
"I told myself that if I didn't give it absolutely everything I had - to just stick with it and see if his level might drop a little bit - then I was going to regret it for a long time."
From 4-4 in the fourth set, Fritz seized control. Tiafoe's mind and legs betrayed him, as he cramped up, at least in part, because of what he said were nerves related to thinking the finish line was near and he was headed to play for the title.
Frances Tiafoe said nerves got the better of him in the latter stages of the semi-final. (AP PHOTO)
"I felt like my body shut down on me," said Tiafoe, who fell to 7-14 in five-setters.
"I got ahead of myself. Sometimes, it's not meant to be."
Top-ranked Sinner finished off a 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 victory over Britain's Jack Draper to reach his first US Open decider - and second at a grand slam tournament his year - after they simultaneously received treatment from trainers on a humid afternoon in New York.
Sinner, 23, was exonerated in a doping case less than a week before the tournament began and needed his left wrist massaged at a changeover after falling late in the second set. During the same break in the action, the 25th-seeded Draper got medical attention after vomiting twice on the court between points.
"I think obviously it's a big occasion for me," 22-year-old British No.1 Draper said.
"I'm definitely someone who is, I think, quite an anxious human being. I think when you add all that together, sometimes I do feel a bit nausea on court, and I do feel a little bit sick when it gets tough.
Jack Draper (left) and Jannik Sinner both struggled during their US Open semi-final. (AP PHOTO)
"I didn't have any problems before the match, but it obviously just built up."
The longer that points lasted between Sinner and Draper - who are friends and played doubles together at an event in August - the more things went the Italian's way as the contest stretched past three hours.
Sinner won the Australian Open in January and will seek his second major championship on Sunday.
"Obviously it's tough for Jack, for sure," said Sinner, who improved to 34-2 on hard courts in 2024.
"Semis, they are a bit different to play, and in grand slams, finals are a bit different. You feel a lot of tension. It's a bit different. But it was nice to share the court with him."
With PA
