Frances Tiafoe defeats Andrey Rublev in straight sets to reach his first major semi-final. © Sarah Stier/Getty Images. ATP Staff Sep 07, 2022.
1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Roddick was in the stands cheering on his countryman as Tiafoe advanced to play the winner of Wednesday night’s heavyweight #NextGenATP battle between [Carlos Alcaraz](https://www.atptour.com/en/players/carlos-alcaraz/a0e2/overview) and [Jannik Sinner](https://www.atptour.com/en/players/jannik-sinner/s0ag/overview). The 22nd seed was imperious to move into a two-sets-to-one lead, with highlights including a delicate drop volley for 6/0 and a rasping backhand return winner to convert set point. Four holds of serve to love in the first five games set the tone for a second set which featured no break points as both players were incisive with their serving. Although Tiafoe was visibly keen to stay on the front foot during rallies, it was Rublev who had all three of the break point chances in the first set. [Andy Roddick](https://www.atptour.com/en/players/andy-roddick/r485/overview) advanced to the championship match. Tiafoe took control of his third tour-level meeting with Rublev by raising his game in a pair of tie-breaks to claim an opening two sets in which he did not carve out a break point opportunity.
Before the US Open, the Russian slumped out of the ATP Tour's Top 10 after a disappointing stretch of early exits. Now, he's a match win away from his first ...
“I lost to him last year here at the US Open,” Rublev recalled. But Rublev has been down this road before: a year ago at the US Open, he allowed himself to be caught up in the drama and the fireworks in his first meeting against Tiafoe. In the fourth round, against the higher-seeded Norrie, Rublev recorded his most stone-cold performance of the tournament, weathering multiple rain delays on Louis Armstrong Stadium to close it out in straight sets. Rublev survived, 7-6 (5), 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, but the experience seemed to serve as a wakeup call. If a putaway forehand resulted in an unforced error, Rublev could often be found ranting to his player box or berating himself, setting off a snowball effect that would often see him lose a perfectly winnable match. The US Open, where he had previously reached two of his five career Grand Slam quarterfinals, has given him that and more.
Home favourite Frances Tiafoe turned on the style to beat Andrey Rublev in straight sets at the US Open on Arthur Ashe Stadium, sealing his first-ever semi-final appearance at a Grand Slam in the process. The 22nd seed made headlines across the world ...
Tiafoe backed up a win over Rafael Nadal with a quarterfinal victory over Andrey Rublev, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (0), 6-4.
Two days after downing Rafael Nadal, Frances Tiafoe defeated Andrey Rublev 7-6 (3), 7-6 (0), 6-4 to become the first American man to reach the US Open ...
"Irrespective of how he finishes, this has been a monumental evolution in his career and he'll only build upon the learning and success of this US Open." from Sierra Leone in the 1990s during a civil war there. Over and over, he gesticulated and yelled toward his guest box, where only four of the 15 seats were occupied, quite a contrast to Tiafoe's completely full section. Tiafoe's twin brother, Franklin, too, and their parents, who emigrated to the U.S. 11 [Jannik Sinner](https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/players/profile?playerId=3623), who were to play Wednesday night. "I kind of imagined he would be at his best by the end of next year." The only break of serve came more than two hours in, when Tiafoe went ahead 4-3 in the third set, then stood mostly motionless on court, enjoying the crescendo of support. Tiafoe won 31 of 41 points when he went to the net; Rublev only ventured forward 11 times. [Rafael Nadal](https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/players/profile?playerId=261) in the fourth round, with another milestone victory, beating No. man to get to the semifinals in New York, losing to Roger Federer in the title match 16 years ago. "I just want to go out there and try to give the crowd what they want -- and that's me getting the win." "I love to show the world what I can do," said the 24-year-old Tiafoe, the No.
This makes the 24-year-old the first American man to reach a Grand Slam semifinals since John Isner at 2018's Wimbledon.
In the third round, the American took down No. Rublev was the third ranked player Tiafoe beat in this year’s U.S. Open, Tiafoe beat Rublev in five sets in the third round. [Could Tiafoe end the nearly two-decade drought](https://www.si.com/tennis/2022/09/07/tennis-mailbag-us-open-2022-week-2) of American men coming up short at Grand Slam tournaments? The 24-year-old’s historic win also makes him the first Black American to advance to a U.S. Open quarterfinals in straight sets 7–6(3), 7–6(0), 6–4 to advance to his first career Grand Slam semifinal.
Tiafoe is also the first African-American man to reach the US Open semifinals since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
Tiafoe has a chance to end a long drought for the Americans, who have gone 74 consecutive majors without a title in a men's competition -- the longest losing streak in U.S. No American man has won the US Open since Roddick took the title in 2003. Frances Tiafoe took down Andrey Rublev in straight sets Wednesday during the US Open quarterfinals at Arthur Ashe Stadium, becoming the first American man to make the tournament's semifinals since Andy Roddick in 2006. That was not a small feat, as Nadal went into that match with 22 consecutive Grand Slam victories, having made at least the quarterfinal of each of the last 16 majors he participated in since the 2017 US Open. He hit the racket so hard that he had to swap it out. 22 seed Tiafoe claimed a 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-0), 6-4 victory over the No.
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Rublev locks in on the next return and a brilliant backhand to backhand exchange ends with Tiafoe blinking first. Tiafoe has the Ashe crowd on its feet! - RUBLEV 6-7 6-7 TIAFOE The American quickly re-focuses and gets on the board with the minimum of fuss. RUBLEV 6-7 6-7 1-0 TIAFOE Tiafoe is at 41 per cent for first serves made in this set, but still Rublev can’t find a break point. Tiafoe gets distracted by a murmur in the crowd and double faults. RUBLEV 6-7 6-7 2-2 TIAFOE RUBLEV 6-7 6-7 3-2 TIAFOE RUBLEV 6-7 6-7 3-3 TIAFOE RUBLEV 6-7 6-7 3-5 TIAFOE Take a bow, Frances Tiafoe!