By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday August 18, 2024
Frances Tiafoe saved a pair of match points to reach his maiden Masters final in Cincinnati.
Photo Source: TTV
Trailing 5-3 in what was up until that point a lopsided deciding set, Frances Tiafoe flicked the switch and showed the fans at the Cincinnati Open the type of magic he possesses.
In a span of 20 minutes the 26-year-old American flipped the script, saved a pair of match points, and finished off Denmark’s Holger Rune, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) to earn a spot in his maiden Masters 1000 final.
Tiafoe’s reaction?
“Why not me.”
Those were the words he etched on the camera when he signed it in the midst of a merry post-match celebration.
It was the tightrope walk at the finish that made the match special for the fans that stayed with the American right up until the finish, which happened a few strokes before midnight.
Tiafoe broke Rune for 4-5 but quickly got into trouble when he served to level the set. Facing two match points from 15-40 he won the first at the end of a long rally with a lucky bounce of the net cord. The second he cleaned up with a big serve.
“Crazy. That last set was nuts,” Tiafoe said. “I got really lucky there, got a couple of net cords – ultimately I battled, competed really hard and put myself in position.”
From 5-5 the pair battled into a tiebreak, and Tiafoe took control of the contest near the end. He hit a sparkling backhand crosscourt passing shot winner to earn triple match point at 6-3 and converted two points later when he forced a forehand error from 21-year-old Rune.
Tiafoe becomes the first American to reach the Cincinnati final since John Isner in 2013. He is now one of three active Americans to have reached a Masters final, along with 2022 Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz and 2021 Toronto finalist Reilly Opelka.
He hit 25 winners against 19 unforced errors, compared to Rune’s 35 winners against 43 unforced errors.
“I battled, he got a little tight,” he said. “One thing led to another and here we are.”
Tiafoe will still be in Cincinnati tomorrow, with a different type of opponent across the net. He’ll face World No.1 Jannik Sinner in Monday’s final.
The Italian edged Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s first semifinal, 7-6(9) 5-7 7-6(4). It was an up and down affair that lasted over three hours, and Sinner appeared to be struggling with his previously injured right hip during the match.
“It means a lot to me. It's a very different moment, what I'm going through, so I'm very happy about this result," Sinner said. "The physical aspect, of course, I have to improve, because if I want to win Grand Slams or a bigger title, I have to be, for sure, more in shape. But I just tried to stay there mentally, which I'm very proud [of], and let's see what's coming tomorrow.”
The Italian is bidding for his fifth title of 2024, and his third Masters title. He is 47-5 on the year thus far.
Sinner owns a 3-1 lifetime record against Tiafoe.
“He’s the favorite in every match he plays,” Tiafoe said. “You have to tip your hat to a guy like him. Incredible year, incredible player. But it doesn’t mean I’m not going to come out here and compete as hard as I can and try to win. It’s one match, it’s a final – let the best man win.”