America’s
Frances Tiafoe has opened up about feelings of losing
the semifinal of the
US Open 2024. The 26-year-old is often regarded as one of
the most underrated players currently playing in men’s tennis in the singles
category and has produced some impressive performances in the 2024 season.
The highlight of the season for Tiafoe was in the Grand Slam
on his home soil, where he was within touching distance of making it to the finals.
However, he ended up losing to fellow American Taylor Fritz. That result was even more disappointing as the Maryland-born was two sets up and still went on
to lose the next three. Fritz became the first American player in 18 years to
play in the final, where he lost to reigning world number one Italy’s Jannik
Sinner with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.
Tiafoe has been recently quoted in a report on the official
website of the
Australian Open where he talked in detail about how he felt
after losing in the semifinal of a Grand Slam despite winning the first two
sets. The reigning world number 17 admitted that result ‘wasn’t easy’ for him
to digest but also stated that he was happy that he lost that particular
fixture to another American. Tiafoe also stated that seeing Fritz play in the
final only makes him more motivated.
“That [US Open 2024 semifinal defeat] wasn't easy,” he said.
“I really thought I could have been in the final there. Thought it was pretty
one-sided until that point. Again, you have to tip your hat, man. Taylor
battled and he deserved to win. The guy who wins the match at the end of the
day deserves to win. Happy it was an American at the end of the day. It was
great to see him play a final. That's only going to light the fire under me to
keep going, keep working.”