Fritz outlasts Tiafoe in All-American US Open semifinal

Taylor Fritz will compete in his first career Grand Slam final after defeating fellow American Frances Tiafoe in five sets, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, in Friday's US Open semifinal.

He will face Italian and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner on Sunday. Sinner defeated Britain's Jack Draper earlier Friday in straight sets.

Tiafoe appeared to have the upper hand until fatigue seemed to set in approximately midway through the fourth set. At three games apiece, the 26-year-old could only watch as Fritz ripped a cross-court attempt to finish off a grueling 31-shot rally to go up 40-15. Tiafoe responded with a vicious forehand return off Fritz's ensuing serve, but the latter delivered one of his 16 aces on the night to wrap up that seventh game.

Tiafoe then lost eight of the next 10 games, including six straight, while committing a combined 26 unforced errors in the final two sets.

"I thought I was the better player for sure tonight," Tiafoe said post-match, courtesy of Brian Lewis of the New York Post. "But then in the fourth, I had some cramps. My body just felt like it started shutting down.

"I don't know, it probably had a lot to do with nerves."

Fritz is the first American man to reach the US Open's championship match since Andy Roddick lost the 2006 title game to Roger Federer. No American man has won a Grand Slam tournament since Roddick captured the 2003 US Open.

"It's the reason why I do what I do. It's the reason why I work so hard," Fritz said after the win while holding back tears during an on-court interview. "I mean, I'm in the finals of the US Open."

With Jessica Pegula advancing Thursday to set up a championship showdown against Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday on the women's side, it'll be the first time since 2002 that the Americans will boast a representative in both US Open finals.