IN an epic come-from-behind victory, top seeded American Taylor Fritz was able to knock off his compatriot Frances Tiafoe and become the first United States Grand Slam finalist in 15 years. Not since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009 has a United States representative reached a Grand Slam final, and one has to go even further back for a home Slam finalist (2006) let alone a title-wining one (2003).

While Roddick holds all those most recent achievements, Fritz has now taken two of the three, and is one win away from the ultimate glory. Standing between him and the US Open trophy is world number one Jannik Sinner who had a far easier day out with a straight sets victory over surprise semi-finalist Jack Draper.

In Fritz’s 4-6 7-5 4-6 6-4 6-1 triumph over Tiafoe, the 12th seed kept at it even when in trouble throughout the fourth set and on the verge of bowing out. He outlasted his close friend and once he levelled the scores, ran away with the contest with eight of the last nine games.

After Tiafoe served to level the scores at 5-5 40-15 in the 10th game of the second set, the 20th seed served back-to-back double faults then hit two forehand unforced errors to hand the set to Fritz. From there, the highest ranked American never looked back and stamped his ticket into the final match of the tournament.

Fritz served 16 aces to 11, and hit four more winners (42-38) and 15 less unforced errors (35-50) against his friend, while breaking six times to four. He was also far superior at the net (74 per cent to 58 per cent) which was crucial in the end. Now the 26-year-old is on the verge of making more history, 21 years after Roddick won the US Open.

“It’s the reason I do what I do, the reason why I work so hard. I’m in the final of the US Open,” Fritz said post-match. “It’s a dream come true and I’m going to give it everything I possibly have. I know that for a fact.”

Though he trailed two sets to one, Fritz credited Tiafoe for his work early and then had to get back into it through his own serve to gain momentum across the three-hour and 18-minute match.

“[Tiafoe] was overwhelming from the baseline so much, taking the ball so early, changing lines so well,” Fritz said. “I just told myself to try to stay in it, fight to hold my serve and apply scoreboard pressure as much as possible.”

In the other semi-final, Sinner defeated Draper 7-5 7-6 6-2 in what the Italian world number one described as a “very physical match” and that the Brit was “very tough to beat”.

Sinner served 11 aces to eight, and only two double faults to Draper’s two. He also smashed 14 more winners (43-29) and had nine less unforced errors (34-43) as he stormed into his second Grand Slam final of the year.