New York | Tiafoe sets up an all-American semifinal

Grigor Dimitrov’s excellent run at this year’s US Open came to an end on Arthur Ashe Stadium when he was forced to retire with an injury to his upper thigh midway through the fourth set of his quarter final against Frances Tiafoe.

It was a really, really high-level match. I liked where I was at in the third regardless. But obviously, I didn’t want it to end like that, FRances Tiafoe

An unfortunate end to a tight match but Dimitrov’s inopportune ending means Tiafoe now faces Taylor Fritz in an all-American semi-final and guarantees an American in the final itself for the first time since Andy Roddick in 2006 and a chance for New Yorkers to possibly witness a home champion lift the trophy on Sunday, a celebration they last experienced in 2003, again, for Roddick.

That semi-final winner will also be the first American to reach a grand slam final since Wimbledon 2009 when Roddick fell to Roger Federer. The last American to be beaten on home soil at the semi-final stage was Robby Ginepri in 2005.

“Obviously, it’s not the way I want to get through. But obviously happy to get through,” Tiafoe said following a muted victory celebration after giving his downcast a hug at the net following Dimitrov’s retirement with the score standing in his favour at 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3 4-1.

“Another semi-final here. Incredible,” he added after making the last four at Flushing Meadows for a second time in three years.

Neither player dominated as they fought each other with their respectively contrasting style, Tiafoe with his powerful shot making while Dimitrov showed excellent touch.

“It was a really, really high-level match. I liked where I was at in the third regardless. But obviously, I didn’t want it to end like that,” Tiafoe said.

The 26-year-old from Hyattsville in Maryland, used his all-court game to great effect with an aggressive approach, successfully winning 17 of his 31 net approaches and came close to establishing a two-sets to love lead in the 12th game of the second set only for Dimitrov to make a recovery and force a tiebreak.

There the Bulgarian led 6-3 before double faulting on back-to-back points which surprisingly, Tiafoe then mirrored with a double fault of his own allowing Dimitrov to level the match.

Tiafoe continued to be aggressive in the third as the level of tennis remained high and eventually gained the upper hand to lead after Dimitrov picked up his injury at the tail end of the set forcing him to throw in the towel while tailing 4-1 in the fourth.

After commiserating with Dimitrov, Tiafoe told the crowd: “You guys get to see me again, against another American, so Friday is going to be one hell of a day,” to which the crowd’s response was a huge cheer.

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Meanwhile the 33-year-old Dimitrov, will rue his fate for it is the second time he has been forced to retire from consecutive major championships.

“Honestly, I cannot pinpoint everything,” Dimitrov said when asked for specifics on his current injury, noting that he felt discomfort in the leadup to the match.

“I need to cool off a little bit and see what the thing is, do all the scans and all that … I’ve always pushed myself and my body to the limit, but there comes a time where you just have to make an executive decision, and, yeah, I made it today.”

Tiafoe will now hope fate continues to smile on him as he faces Fritz who has a superior win-loss record over him So far, he has only beaten him once in seven previous meetings!