KEY POINTS

  • Frances Tiafoe defeated Rafael Nadal in the round of 16
  • Tiafoe has qualified for his career's first Grand Slam semi-final
  • The match is going to be against Alcaraz or Sinner

Frances Tiafoe on Wednesday became the first American man to reach the US Open semi-finals in 16 long years.

Tiafoe bagged the milestone by beating 9th seed Andrey Rublev 7-6 (3), 7-6 (0), 6-4 in front of a lively and supporting crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 22nd-seeded Tiafoe replicated the aggressive game that he had used to eliminate the four-time champion, Rafael Nadal.

Andy Roddick was the last American man to get to the semi-finals in New York when he lost to Roger Federer in four sets in the final in the 2006 edition. Roddick also was the last man from the country to win any Grand Slam singles title, taking the US Open in 2003.

"Man, man, this is wild. This is crazy. I had the biggest win of my life 24 hours ago. ... That's huge growth. It's tough to turn the page," Tiafoe, who grew up in Maryland, said after his quarter-final fixture.

The 24-year-old Tiafoe also ensured that everyone in the Flushing Meadows stadium knew that a quarter-final victory is not enough to satisfy him.

"I feel so at home on courts like this. This court is unbelievable. [The crowd] gets so far behind me that I want to play and give my best. I always find a way somehow on this court, I always play some great tennis and I have been. Let's enjoy this, we've got two more," a determined Tiafoe said by looking at the crowd.

Tiafoe also became the first American Black man to reach a US Open semifinal since Arthur Ashe in 1972.

Tiafoe's first career Grand Slam semi-final will be against World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz or World No. 13 Jannik Sinner.

During the on-court interview, when Tiafoe was asked if he would watch the quarter-final between Sinner and Alcaraz, the American star replied," I'll sit back and watch them battle and I'm keeping my feet up, so let them battle all night hopefully. But [they are] two great players, and it's going to be tough come Friday, but I'm here for all they've got."

The local boy played both aggressive and offensive tennis. He used 18 aces and intense volleys to eliminate Rublev from the US Open and continue his fairytale journey. Tiafoe won 31 of 41 points when he went to the net. Rublev, who only went forward 11 times, now is 0-6 in last-eight matches at Grand Slams.

In shock: Frances Tiafoe reacts after defeating Rafael Nadal
Frances Tiafoe is the first American man to reach the US Open semis since 2006

Nevertheless, the quarter-final finish at the New York Grand Slam has brought Rublev back into the top 10 as his current ATP Live Ranking is No. 9.