By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Frances Tiafoe backed up his upset of Rafael Nadal deconstructing Andrey Rublev 7-6(3), 7-6(0), 6-4 to streak into his maiden major semifinal at the US Open.
Photo credit: Getty
NEW YORK—Building blocks are fundamental forms of Frances Tiafoe's tennis DNA.
More than two decades ago, Frances Tiafoe's father, Constant Tiafoe, worked on the construction crew that erected the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland where his sons learned to play.
More: Tiafoe Shocks Nadal
Today, an inspired Frances Tiafoe continued building brilliant dreams on the game's largest Grand Slam stage.
Asserting his all-court skills, Tiafoe deconstructed Andrey Rublev 7-6(3), 7-6(0), 6-4 to streak into his maiden major semifinal at the US Open.
Backing up his stunning upset of 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in the fourth round, Tiafoe took it to Rublev on pivotal points in a milestone victory. Tiafoe is the first American man to reach the Flushing Meadows final four since Andy Roddick in 2006. Former US Open champion Roddick was among the more than 23,000 fans packed inside Arthur Ashe Stadium riding the wave of inspiration right along with Tiafoe.
"This is wild, this is crazy," Tiafoe told ESPN's James Blake in his on-court interview. "Having the biggest win of my life 24 hours and coming back and getting another big win to back it up, it's huge bro, Tough to turn the page but now I did and I'm in the semis."
The 24-year-old Tiafoe aims to become the first American man to reach the US Open final since Roddick in 2006 when he takes on either third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz or 11th-seeded Jannik Sinner in Friday's semifinal.
The ninth-seeded Rublev is one of the biggest hitters in the sport and played hard throughout but was his own worst enemy at times. A raging Rublev punched the strings of his racquet face with his fist, beat his leg with his stick in frustration and nearly broke down in tears during a third-set changeover as he fell to 0-6 in Grand Slam finals.
Tiafoe turned up the frustration on Rublev and turned up the adrenaline of Arthur Ashe Stadium fans who provided a wall of sound exhorting the man from Maryland.
"I feel so at home on courts like this," Tiafoe told Ashe Stadium fans afterward. "The court is unbelievable. You guys get so far behind me, I want to play and I want to give my best. I always find a ways somehow on this court. Let's enjoy this one we got two more guys. We got two more."
Rublev, who routed seventh-seeded Cameron Norrie in the fourth round, did not play poorly but a combination of Tiafoe's all-court game and the Russian's ranting self-criticism cost him.
Tennis fans know Tiafoe is one of the fastest players in the sport. Tiafoe's ability to deliver answers from all areas of the court distinguished him from Rublev today.
The 22nd-seeded Tiafoe fired 18 aces, saved all three break points he faced, played dazzling drop shots and imposed his net game on Rublev. Tiafoe won 32 of 41 trips to net, while Rublev managed just four net points in two hours, 36 minutes.
It's been a wild and wondrous journey to the Flushing Meadows final four for Tiafoe, whose parents and twin brother showed their emotion in the player support box. Frances Tiafoe and his twin brother, Franklin, are the sons of Constant and Alphina Tiafoe, who immigrated to the United States from Sierra Leone. France's father worked on the construction crew that built the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland. His father was eventually hired as the Center's custodian and Frances and Franklin both grew up training at the center from the age of four.
Family is central to Tiafoe's life and he continues to fulfill a promise he made to his parents.
"I told my parents 10 years ago I was going to be a pro. I was going to do this. I was going to change their life and my life,” said Tiafoe after reaching his first major quarterfinal at the 2019 Australian Open.
Little separated the pair for two sets today.
Rublev repelled a break point in the 11th game. Waiting for the ball kid to return his winning ball, Rublev ripped a pair of stinging serves down the middle dodging danger for 6-5.
Tiafoe asserted his aggression to save a break point at 30-40 in the 12th game. A 132 mph ace down the middle and errant Rublev forehand helped Tiafoe hold to force the tiebreaker.
Tiafoe's superior skills closing in the front-court and his willingness to change direction down the line were keys in the tiebreaker.
Torching deep forehand strikes, Tiafoe took a 5-2 lead in the breaker. When Rublev scattered a forehand wide, Tiafoe had a handful of set points. A Rublev rainbow lob landed on the baseline saving the first set point.
On the second, Tiafoe stepped up to the line and threw down a 130 mph bolt to end the opening set with a bang.
Rublev tightened the pressure screws in the ninth game of set two taking Tiafoe to deuce. The American answered slashing a pair of aces, including a 134 mph missile, holding for a 5-4 second-set lead.
The match escalated into a second-set tiebreaker when Tiafoe lit up Ashe Stadium with an electric attack.
Working with coach and former Top 10 player Wayne Ferreira, Tiafoe has tried to impose his transition and net skills more and play more points with a purpose. A fired-up Tiafoe entertained and engaged the crowd and amped up his energy in the breaker.
Urgency in Tiafoe's feet saw him forcing Rublev to produce passes under pressure. Hammering a second-serve return, Tiafoe came in and tapped a half-volley Rublev could not handle for 3-0.
Tiafoe tomahawked two aces in a row including a 134 mph blast. That 13th ace extended his lead to 5-0.
Pinning the Russian in the corner, Tiafoe carved out another drop volley winner then waved his arms exhorting fans to make more noise. Reading Rublev's second serve, Tiafoe went airborne for a flying backhand return winner that recalled the young Marcelo Rios. That strike sent fans into a frenzy, sent Tiafoe sprinting to her court-side seat and sent and raging Rublev into an extended rant.
Tiafoe hit 17 winners compared to 10 for Rublev in the set, but most importantly he elevated his game to a lofty level the ninth seed could not match in snatching a two-set lead after one hour, 45 minutes. Tiafoe improved his 2022 US Open tiebreak record to 6-0, with two of those breakers coming in shutouts.
Neither man managed a break point for the first two-and-a-half sets. When Tiafoe gained break point, he made the most of it.
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Ripping a forehand, Tiafoe raced forehand and dabbed a drop volley into the short court. A sprinting Rublev had a clear shot at the pass but sent a backhand long as Tiafoe broke for 4-3 inciting a crowd roar. A despondent Rublev bit into a tennis ball in anguish and seemed to press back tears with his towel during the ensuing changeover.
Down 15-30 in the next game, an adrenalized Tiafoe scorched a 136 mph ace then tagged the service line with a second serve that left an incredulous Rublev dropping his Head racquet in disbelief. Confronting break point, Tiafoe navigated a 15-shot rally, patiently probed for an attackable ball then dripped a drop volley winner. Unloading a 135 mph ace out wide, Tiafoe held with an exclamation point for 5-3.
The finish line loomed ahead and Tiafoe sprinted through it smacking his 18th ace to seal his most monumental win.
Seven years ago, a 17-year-old Tiafoe fought off Stefan Kozlov, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6, 6-4, in a punishing four-hour marathon final to win the USTA Boys' 18 National Championship and earn a wild card into the U.S. Open main draw.
The former wild card winner will try to extend his wild ride facing the third-seeded Alcaraz or 11th-seeded Sinner next.
Afterward, Tiafoe climbed into his box embracing family and friends while vowing to keep this thrill ride going. Tiafoe is bidding to become the first non-European man to win the US Open since Juan Martin del Potro toppled Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer back-to-back to capture the 2009 US Open crown.
The Tiafoe family's journey continues.
"It's just like a dream come true; if we can go until the end I'm very, very happy," father Constant Tiafoe told ESPN's Pam Shriver.