Taylor Fritz vs. Frances Tiafoe score, results, highlights: Fritz outlasts fellow American in five sets to reach US Open final

The 2024 US Open men’s final was guaranteed to feature an American, marking the first time since 2006 such a sentence could be uttered.

After Friday’s semifinal, now we know who that American will be.

Taylor Fritz punched a ticket to his first ever major championship final, outlasting fellow American Frances Tiafoe in a five-set thriller, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Fritz, 26, improved his standing as the match wore on, placing serve after serve beyond Tiafoe’s weary grasp. The No. 12 seed in this year’s tournament, Fritz clearly had the venom to make it deep in this year’s tournament; he proved as much in the quarterfinals, besting No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev in four sets.

He wasn’t without faults, however. Fritz’s mobility has always been a question mark. So too has his ability to maintain his composure as matches stretch into a decisive fifth set.

The Rancho Santa Fe, California, native assuaged both of those fears Friday night. Despite falling into a hole after an uneven first set, Fritz found life in the second, responding to Tiafoe’s brilliance with some of his own. His serve was as lively as ever, as Fritz proved by littering the court with aces.

Fritz’s penchant for net points shined brightest at Arthur Ashe. Matched up against a quicker opponent in Tiafoe, Fritz forced the issue at the boundary. His aggression made a difference, too; not only was Fritz regularly stroking shots beyond Tiafoe. He was also forcing the Hyattsville, Maryland, native into mistakes of his own.

Miscues began to pop up across Tiafoe’s game, particularly during serves. He looked fatigued as the match rolled on. Fritz, meanwhile, appeared as fresh as one can be after three hours.

When Fritz’s strike spurned an awestruck Tiafoe in the final set, all Fritz could do was look up to the heavens. He had finally scaled the mountain to make a tournament final. And he vanquished one of his best friends on the ATP Tour to do so.

STREAM: Watch Taylor Fritz vs. Frances Tiafoe live with Fubo (free trial)

The Sporting News tracked live score updates, results and highlights from throughout Friday night’s matchup of American tennis stars.

MORE: Who was the last American to win US Open men’s singles title?

Taylor Fritz vs. Frances Tiafoe score

Taylor Fritz vs. Frances Tiafoe live score, results, highlights from 2024 US Open semifinals

(All times Eastern)

Fifth set

11:03 p.m.: Fritz does it! He’s moving on to the US Open final to face off against Jannik Sinner.

11:00 p.m.: Fritz breaks serve once more. He’s one game away from a spot in the US Open final.

10:56 p.m.: Tiafoe gets a set break back, recording his first victory of the set in the process.

10:53 p.m.: Another double-fault gives Fritz his fourth game. Two away from a major final.

10:48 p.m.: Fritz does it again, using his serve to overmatch Tiafoe. He’s three games away from a date with Sinner in the final.

10:45 p.m.: Fritz breaks serve. Tiafoe is in trouble.

10:42 p.m.: Fritz opens with a win to start the fifth set. Tiafoe has to respond sooner rather than later. He looks fatigued from the outside looking in, however.

Fourth set: Fritz wins, 6-4

10:36 p.m.: Tiafoe surrenders the serve advantage, posting a double-fault. Fritz wins the game and the set, overcoming a 40-15 deficit to even things up at two sets apiece.

10:29 p.m.: Fritz pulls out in front. He can even things up at two sets apiece if he can fend off Tiafoe on his serve.

10:26 p.m.: Tiafoe holds to level things at four. It’s about as even as it can get through four sets.

10:22 p.m.: Fritz takes his fourth game of the set. The decisive moment? A 31-shot rally that ended with the lanky Californian stroking a shot beyond a weary Tiafoe.

10:17 p.m.: Tiafoe ties it up again. Fritz made it tight, answering back on two occasions to pull things to 40-30. However, Tiafoe answered with a flourish, placing a forehand beyond Fritz’s outstretched grasp to secure the game.

10:11 p.m.: It got hairy for Fritz in that game. But he does just enough to outlast Tiafoe, racing to a 3-2 advantage in the process.

10:09 p.m.: Tiafoe fires back with a service game of his own. We’re even at two through four games in this fourth set.

10:04 p.m.: Fritz holds on to take his second game of the set. It was a contest defined by a pair of rallies, one of which went Tiafoe’s way. The decisive one belonged to Fritz, however, who coax his fellow American into sending a shot beyond the baseline.

10:00 p.m.: And Tiafoe responds in kind, sweeping Fritz to capture of game of his own.

9:57 p.m.: Fritz starts the fourth set with a five-point game win. Good rebound for the No. 12-seed.

Third set: Tiafoe wins, 6-4

9:49 p.m.: Tiafoe takes Set No. 3! He’s one set away from his first US Open final.

9:42 p.m.: Tiafoe huffed and puffed during Fritz’s serve, bringing the score to 40-30 at one point. However, a pair of miscued shots give Fritz the win, his fourth of the set. Tiafoe has a chance to secure the set win on his serve.

9:39 p.m.: More first serve wonder for Tiafoe, who adds another game to his collection with his secret tool. One game away from a third-set victory.

9:36 p.m.: Fritz keeps on chugging away, firing off solids serves to stay within arms length of Tiafoe. As for the Hyattsville native, he’s made some mistakes when bearing down on the net, surrendering points that you’d expect him to secure. Will be one to watch out for as the match rolls on.

9:33 p.m.: Tiafoe brings his advantage back to two games. Although his first serve percentage has dipped ever so slightly in Set No. 3, he’s still posing problems to his American adversary.

9:30 p.m.: Fritz responds in kind. Another service game for the serving savant. His efforts have looked far more consistent since that first set.

9:27 p.m.: Foe takes the fourth game of the set. That serve is still holding up thus far.

9:23 p.m.: Fritz gets on the board. He has had success with his net game thus far: Fritz is 16-of-18 at the net, better than Tiafoe’s 9-of-16 showing. Looks like the lanky Californian has made some serious strides in that part of his game.

9:20 p.m.: Tiafoe takes Game 2, using his drop shot to get Fritz moving. If he can get that shot more consistently, he could pose some serious problems to Fritz in this third set.

9:13 p.m.: Tiafoe breaks Fritz’s serve to take the first game. Painted the chalk with an elegant forehand.

Second set: Fritz wins, 7-5

9:09 p.m.: Fritz answers back! Forces a double-fault from Tiafoe to take a second set victory.

9:04 p.m.: Fritz responds with a flourish, taking five straight points to give himself a 6-5 lead in the second set. Up to Tiafoe to tie it up now — and send this set to a tiebreak.

9:02 p.m.: Tiafoe rallies to take the game! He desperately needed that one.

9:01 p.m.: Tiafoe responds with a pair of inch-perfect serves, one which results in an ace, the other which sets up an easy forehand winner. He’s got the advantage now.

9:00 p.m.: Fabulous point for Fritz, who answers an impressive Tiafoe forehand with a delightful backhand flick of his own. He takes a 40-30 advantage.

8:58 p.m.: Andy Roddick is also in the stands, although his presence is slightly less surprising. After all, he’s the last American man to lift the US Open trophy.

8:56 p.m.: Fritz captures the ninth game of the set, racing out to a 5-4 lead in the process. There was a close call for the No. 12-seed, who fired off a delectable drop shot for Tiafoe to run onto. The Maryland native misfired on his rebuttal, proving unable to clear the net.

8:53 p.m.: Tiafoe keeps the serve advantage, taking the eighth game of the set.

8:50 p.m.: More of the same from Fritz, who uses that frightening first serve to outclass Tiafoe. He holds the one-game advantage.

8:49 p.m.: Bears noting that Tiafoe isn’t the most renowned at his first serve. On one hand, it’s been a remarkable showing with his venomous strike. On the other, is it possible he maintains this level of performance? He’s sank 10 of his 13 first serve attempts this set.

8:48 p.m.: Tiafoe’s serve leads him to yet another game. Back to even at three.

8:45 p.m.: Celebrities continue to flood Friday’s match. Travis Scott has somehow just appeared, as he tends to do at major sporting events.

8:43 p.m.: Fritz returns the favor, fail gin to surrender a single point to take the lead.

8:42 p.m.: Tiafoe puts away Fritz with ease, evening things up at two games apiece.

8:41 p.m.: And yet another sporting icon is gracing the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium concourses: Basketball Hall-of-Famer Kevin Garnett.

8:38 p.m.: Fritz puts away each of his first serves as he secures a 2-1 advantage.

8:37 p.m.: Tiafoe’s serve has been money thus far. Puts five straight points past Fritz to take Game No. 2.

8:35 p.m.: Fritz takes the first game of the second set. Flashed some strong mobility throughout, a promising sign after a challenging opening first few games.

First set: Tiafoe wins, 6-4

8:30 p.m.: Tiafoe takes the first set, winning six of his last seven games to pull out in front.

8:26 p.m.: Fritz stops the bleeding, painting the black with his backhand to pull within one game of Tiafoe. The No. 20-ranked player in the world still has a chance to clinch the first set on his own serve.

8:23 p.m.: Tiafoe overcomes a 40-30 deficit to take a fifth game. Serve was looking formidable throughout that game; he recorded back-to-back aces to get himself back into it.

8:15 p.m.: Tiafoe takes another game after an impressive rally between the two Americans. When he gets Fritz moving, he tends to have success. He’s got four games in a row. And he’s back on his serve.

8:14 p.m.: Fritz’s serve has gone a bit awry during this first set. Just cost him a point after double-faulting.

8:13 p.m.: Yet another sporting luminary in the building: four-time major winner Rory McIlroy.

8:12 p.m.: Tiafoe gets the break and we’re back even at three games apiece.

8:02 p.m.: Tiafoe breaks Fritz’s serve, taking advantage of some subpar first serves by the California native. He’ll have a chance to even things up on his own serve.

8:00 p.m.: Tiafoe takes the fourth game. Showcased some renewed composure with his serve. He’s going to have to continue to use his mobility to outshine Fritz’s precision.

7:57 p.m.: Other prominent figures at tonight’s match? Fat Joe, Gayle King, Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe and Bam Adebayo.

7:55 p.m.: Another game goes Fritz’s way! Tiafoe sends his volley beyond the baseline.

7:51 p.m.: Fritz breaks serve! Tiafoe’s attempt at firing off a volley dives straight into the net.

7:47 p.m.: Fritz takes the first game, firing off a blistering serve to best his American adversary Tiafoe.

7:45 p.m.: We’re off from Arthur Ashe. Fritz will lead off proceedings with his serve.

7:36 p.m.: And here comes Fritz!

7:35 p.m.: Tiafoe struts out onto the court first, accompanied by the dulcet sounds of Metro Boomin and Future.

7:25 p.m.: Among the stars littered across who have flooded Flushing, New York, for tonight’s contest is Mavericks wing Klay Thompson.

7:15 p.m.: We’re about five minutes away from the start of tonight’s contest. Those who have spilled into Arthur Ashe Stadium’s concourses will be hoping it’s a modern-day classic.

6:25 p.m.: No matter the winner, there will be a buzzsaw awaiting one of Fritz or Tiafoe in the final. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner punched his ticket to yet another major final with a straight sets victory over Brit Jack Draper on Friday. With 22 grand slam wins this season, Sinner joined a quartet of tennis luminaries in history:

6:20 p.m.: If previous matchups between Fritz and Tiafoe are any indication, it could be a good day at the office for the California native. Fritz has won six of his seven matchups with Tiafoe over the course of their professional careers. It is worth noting that many of those matches have been close. Also, Tiafoe has something of an incumbency advantage at Arthur Ashe Stadium, having reached the semifinals once before. Fritz, meanwhile, has never made it this far in a major tournament before.

6:00 p.m.: Frances Tiafoe continues his trend of sporting NBA jerseys during this year’s US Open, this time cloaking himself in a Carmelo Anthony Knicks jersey. Could such an iconic strip carry the Hyattsville, Maryland, native to gold at this year’s tournament? He’ll certainly be hoping so.

MORE: US Open 2024 scores, full draw, at Flushing Meadows

How to watch Taylor Fritz vs. Frances Tiafoe

• TV channel: ESPN
• Live stream: ESPN+ | fuboTV

ESPN will air the match between Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe. Viewers can also find the match on ESPN+ and stream it with Fubo, which offers a free trial.

What time does Taylor Fritz vs. Frances Tiafoe start?

The match between Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe will start at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 6. 

The match will be played on center court inside Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

How to watch the US Open in the USA and Canada

US Open matches will be carried by ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPN+ and Tennis Channel. Matches can be streamed on ESPN+, the ESPN app and Fubo.

TSN will carry matches in Canada, with TSN.ca and the TSN App providing live streaming options.

Below is the full schedule for the television broadcasts of the remaining matches. Coverage will begin at 11 a.m. ET each day for ESPN+ and TSN.ca/the TSN App.