Who was the last US man to reach a Grand Slam final? All you need to know ahead of the all-American US Open SF between Frances Tiafoe & Taylor Fritz

The 2024 US Open is coming to an end, and the line-up of one of the men's singles semi-finals was confirmed on Day 9 (September 3). The first semi-final of this year's Open will be between two home favorites Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz.

The All-American affair in the semi-final will guarantee America's participation in the final of this year's US Open. The last American man to play in the final of a Grand Slam was Andy Roddick as he contested the 2009 Wimbledon final against Roger Federer. In an epic five-set match, the Swiss legend prevailed, enabling him to surpass Pete Sampras' record of 14 Majors, which was the most for a male player at that time.

Roddick remains the last American male player to contest in a US Open final as well. The former World No. 1 played in the 2006 final at Flushing Meadows, losing to a familiar opponent Roger Federer, in four sets.

---

Andy Roddick remains the last American man to win the US Open

Andy Roddick at the 2023 US Open (Getty)

Andy Roddick also holds the distinction of being the last American man to capture the year-ending Major in New York, having won the title back in 2003. That year was the breakthrough year for the American, as he rose to the top of the rankings, and came to the Open on the back of title triumphs in Canada and Cincinnati.

Roddick entered the tournament as the fourth seed and opened his campaign with a straight-set victory over Timothy Henman in straight sets. He won against Ivan Ljubicic in straight sets in the second round. He grabbed wins against Flavio Saretta and Xavier Malisse in the next two rounds to advance to the quarter-final.

The fourth seed defeated 12th-seeded Sjeng Schalken in the quarter-finals and played his most competitive match against 13th-seeded David Nalbandian in the semi-final. The American saved match points and recovered from a two-set deficit to win the match in five sets. He defeated third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero to win his first and only Major title in his career.

---

Both Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz are on the cusp of history

Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz will look to create history and be the first American man in a US Open final, after 18 years, and look to become the first American male player to win the title in New York after 21 years.

For Tiafoe this will be his second Major semi-final in his career, as he reached the US Open semi-final in 2022 where he lost to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in five sets. For Taylor Fritz, this will be the first semi-final appearance in a Grand Slam in his career. Fritz won his first Major Quarter-final against fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev in four tight sets.

Even though Fritz is the higher-seeded player, and has lost only once to Tiafoe in 7 matches, the match is expected to be a thrilling prospect under the bright lights of New York as both players will have the support of the home crowd.