Tiafoe will now advance to an all-American semifinal clash against Taylor Fritz.
During Tuesday’s US Open quarterfinal between Frances Tiafoe and Grigor Dimitrov, the cameras at Arthur Ashe Stadium frequently focused on five-time champion Roger Federer, as if to ask: who among the current players will rise to the occasion and etch their name alongside his in the annals of tennis history?
With recent champions Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz already eliminated, and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner still in contention, the tournament now feels more open than in previous years.
Although Tiafoe might not be the leading contender for the title, he secured his place in the semifinals with a decisive 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 4-1 victory over Dimitrov, who retired due to injury. Tiafoe will now face Taylor Fritz in an all-American semifinal.
Despite Dimitrov’s extensive experience at 33 years old, it was the 26-year-old Tiafoe who demonstrated greater confidence, starting the match aggressively and proving nearly unbreakable on serve throughout the evening.
Dimitrov’s age became evident as he sustained an injury towards the end of the third set, which visibly affected his movement. Nevertheless, Tiafoe’s performance deserves recognition as he navigated his way to his second US Open semifinal.
Earlier in the tournament, Tiafoe had overcome formidable opponents such as Ben Shelton and Alexei Popyrin. The matchup against Dimitrov, known for his crafty backhand slice, presented a different challenge. Tiafoe passed this test with flying colors, particularly after losing a momentum-sapping tiebreak in the second set.
Tiafoe set the tone early by challenging Dimitrov’s first two service games, although he was unable to secure a break initially. However, he capitalized on his next opportunity, celebrated with a fist pump, and continued to gain control of the match by breaking Dimitrov’s serve to win the first set.
The second set saw Dimitrov offer stiffer resistance. Despite an early break by Tiafoe to lead 3-1, Dimitrov responded by breaking back to narrow the gap to 4-3. The Bulgarian, who had committed 16 unforced errors in the first set, appeared more vigorous in the second, using his slice backhand to extend rallies and challenge Tiafoe. Dimitrov managed to save a crucial break point at 4-4 with a deft drop shot, demonstrating his tactical acumen. Despite his efforts, Tiafoe’s resilience and skill in managing longer rallies led to a tiebreak, which Dimitrov narrowly won 7-5, capitalizing on Tiafoe’s double faults.
Dimitrov’s service issues resurfaced in the third set, where he double-faulted crucially, allowing Tiafoe to break serve and take a 3-2 lead. These problems persisted into the fourth set, where another double fault led to a break of serve, and Dimitrov was ultimately forced to retire from the match due to injury.
Tiafoe’s performance, marked by his aggressive play and mental fortitude, has set him up for a significant challenge in the semifinals, where he will look to continue his strong run at the US Open.
