Frances Tiafoe has had an excellent run in front of her home crowd in New York. Frances became the first American to reach the US Open semi-final since 2006 and gave his best in a fight for a place in the final.
The American lost to Carlos Alcaraz 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 in four hours and 19 minutes after leaving everything behind at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Frances saved a match point in the fourth set and forced a deciding set before getting broken three times in the final set to end his campaign without reaching the final.
The American served at 47% which cost him dearly. The Spaniard created 20 break chances and got nine that allowed him to win. Alcaraz lost serve three times and controlled the pace with 59 winners and 37 unforced errors.
They served well in the opening set until the final moments, and the teenager saved a set point at 5-6 with an explosive serve. Tiafoe wasted three more set points at 6-3 in the tie break before winning the fifth at 7-6 following a double fault from his rival.
Carlos saved his three break points in the second set and broke his opponent once to make the difference and turn the tables. Tiafoe lost serve in the sixth game after a missed forehand and faced two set points at 2-5.
He saved them to extend the set and created a break chance in the next game. Alcaraz fended her off with a forehand winner and got the third set point for 6-3.
The Spaniard was the only player on the court in the third set, dropping two points behind the opening shot and keeping the pressure on the other side. Carlos broke Frances in games 1 and 3 to build the advantage and delivered another comeback game at 5-1 to close in on the finish line.
Frances Tiafoe lost to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets at the US Open.
They traded four straight breaks early in the fourth set, and Alcaraz created match point on the return at 5-4.
Tiafoe pushed it back after some incredible defending and a game-winning drop shot at the net that kept him alive. The set turned into a tie break, and the American won it 7-5 thanks to a forehand error from the Spaniard, ushering in a deciding set after three hours and 35 minutes.
Carlos made a fresh start and scored an early break. Frances fired a backhand return winner in game four to level the score at 2-2 and gain confidence.
Alcaraz took another lead with a break in game five and held on for the 4-3 scoreline as they closed in on the finish line. The Spaniard grabbed the third match point on his comeback in the ninth game to prevail in another five-set match and set up Sunday’s title clash against Casper Ruud.
“I gave everything I had to give in the last two weeks. Honestly, I came here wanting to win the US Open, and I feel like I let you down.
I want to come back, and I will win this tournament one day. I’m sorry,” Frances Tiafoe told her audience in New York.