The star-studded banner continues to fly over the US Open. For the first time in their careers, Americans Taylor Fritz and Emma Navarro qualified for the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament on Tuesday 3 September. Much to the delight of the New York crowd.
“It’s an incredible feeling. I’ve played quite a few quarter-finals over the last few years and today was not the same: I felt like it was really my day to go through an extra round. It’s great that I’m here, on this court. [Arthur-Ashe]at the US Open, in front of my home crowd »commented Taylor Fritz, winner of the German Alexander Zverev, finalist in 2020.
The 26-year-old Californian player, 12my world, showed nerves of steel to defeat the 4th in four sets, two of them won in the tie-break, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3).
Fritz had already played in four Grand Slam quarter-finals (Wimbledon 2022, US Open 2023, Australian Open and Wimbledon 2024) but relied on his excellent serve on Tuesday. He did not have to defend a single break point in a first set that was decided in a decisive game, as the American had not converted any of the four he had on his side, including three in a row at 6-5.
The second set quickly turned into Zverev’s advantage, but then the tie resumed. As in the first set, Fritz earned three set points at 5-4 and 40/0 on Zverev’s serve. And as in the first round, the German equalised. But this time he gave up the set a few points later, on Fritz’s fifth set point.
In the fourth round, both players held on as best they could until the American easily postponed the tie-break.
“Having a great serve helps, but against the best players the ball comes back more often. I worked hard to complete my range of shots so I had to rely less on the serve.”he stressed, mentioning in particular the uploads to the net and the drops.
On Friday she will face another American, Frances Tiafoe (20my) or the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (9my) to try to reach the final.
“US Open Baby!”
Shortly before Fritz, Emma Navarro had already delighted the Flushing Meadow audience by eliminating Paula Badosa. “It’s crazy to be in the semi-finals. U.S. Open, baby!”exclaimed the 12thmy world after her 6-2, 7-5 victory over the Spaniard (29my), two days after eliminating title holder Coco Gauff.
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“It’s very important for me… With my coach, we’ve been working together since I was 14 or 15, so it’s been eight years. We did a very good job together.”he stressed to his coach Peter Ayers.
Although he had only reached the second round of a Grand Slam once until now (Roland-Garros 2023), Navarro has experienced meteoric progress this year: 3my round at the Australian Open, the round of 16 at Roland Garros, the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and at least the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows, for her eighth Grand Slam. The American won her first and only WTA title to date last January in Hobart, Australia.
Badosa on the verge of tears
On Tuesday in New York she had the best start but, after winning the first set, she experienced a slump in form that allowed Badosa to escape 5-1 in the second. While the players seemed to be heading towards an inevitable deciding set, Badosa collapsed and dropped six games in a row to her opponent.
Even on the verge of tears, she played the 12th game of the set, the last of the match, on her serve. Suffering from chronic back pain, Badosa ended her season last year after withdrawing from Flushing Meadows and did not compete again until June.
“In the second set there was a moment when I felt a little bit good, but at no point were my legs fast. I was slow to react and when I am like that I feel very small on the court.”he explained. “After taking the two breaks, I started to feel bad again, negative phrases invaded my head, and there was such a noise inside me that I just wanted to get off the court.”added the former world number 2.
For her part, Emma Navarro will face Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (2) on Thursday for a place in the final.my) which left no chance for the Chinese Olympic champion in Paris, Qinwen Zheng (7)my), winning in two sets (6-1, 6-2).
Recalling her final loss last year in New York against Coco Gauff, in front of a crowd committed to the American cause, Sabalenka tried to win over the spectators for her next match. “It’s my tour tonight!”said Arthur-Ashe on court after her victory on Tuesday. “Please support me in the next match.” He tried to appease the noisy New York public, an effort probably lost in the face of famous American patriotism.
