In his third five-set win across as many matches at the 2022 US Open, No. 3 seed Carlos Alcaraz defeated American Frances Tiafoe in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday for a spot in the championship match. Final score: 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3.
We love you, @FTiafoe 💙 pic.twitter.com/mH966361tk
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2022
Frances Tiafoe was emotional in a subsequent (and brief) on-court interview—notably telling those in attendance, including former First Lady Michelle Obama, “I’m gonna come back and I am gonna win this thing one day, I promise.” But the 24-year-old was more reflective in a post-match press conference, despite his “emotions flying a thousand miles an hour.”
“I gave everything I had,” Tiafoe said. “Craziest two weeks of my life… I just proved I’m capable of winning Grand Slams.”
Leading up the semifinal, Tiafoe—the No. 27 seed at this tournament—ousted four-time US Open champion and 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal of Spain in a four-set, fourth-round match. He followed that by downing Andrey Rublev in straight sets on Wednesday afternoon, riding the home cheers and applause to victory.
Of his Friday night opponent, Tiafoe said: “I never played a guy who moved as well as him. He’s a hell of a player, and he’s gonna be a problem for a very long time. I got a lot of respect for him.”
Despite his disappointment of falling just short of his dreams—”I wanted to be there Sunday holding that cup. That was the focus and the crowd was feeling me,” he reflected—Tiafoe said he learned some important lessons, including the significance of rest and what the two-week process truly entails at a major.
He also took away a few positives: “[I’m] the only guy to beat Rafa in a Grand Slam this year,” Frances Tiafoe said.
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