Tiafoe on his US Open semi-final loss to Fritz: "It can only strengthen my motivation to keep working"
Last summer, two Americans met in the US Open semi-finals.
They were Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe. The winner would, come what may, contest his first Grand Slam final.
In the end, it was Fritz, the world's 4th-ranked player, who came out on top (4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1). It was Fritz's seventh consecutive victory over Tiafoe.
Present at a press conference in Brisbane, where he will begin his tournament against Adam Walton, Tiafoe was asked about this semi-final in New York, and what can be said is that the current world No. 18 is not holding a grudge.
"The defeat wasn't easy to digest. I really thought I could play in the final there. But you've got to take your hat off to Taylor.
He fought hard and deserved his place in the final. In the end, the player who wins always deserves to win.
Still, I'm glad it went to another American player. It was good to see him play in the final.
It can only strengthen my motivation to keep working. Everything remains open.
Even if Sinner and Alcaraz have had an excellent season and Novak Djokovic remains a threat, anything is possible. There's no such thing as a clear winner before every tournament," he asserts.