IT has been 18 years since an American reached the US Open men’s singles final – and 21 years since the home nation lifted the trophy aloft – but that drought will be broken over the weekend. While the player who achieved both of the aforementioned feats Andy Roddick is now retired, one of Taylor Fritz or Frances Tiafoe will break through the glass ceiling that long evaded the hosts.

Fritz had a massive win over fourth seed Alexander Zverev, with the German gunning to rise as high as second in the world and finally crack through for a maiden Grand slam title. The American won 7-6 3-6 6-4 7-6 in three hours and 26 minutes, producing a performance that was as impressive as Zverev was disappointing.

For Fritz, the win marked his first major semi-final, following in the footsteps of compatriots Tiafoe and Tommy Paul. While always feeling a little bit unsatisfied at not accomplishing the feat to-date, he will now live it out on his home court.

“I was always happy for them, honestly, like, pumped for them. I think the mental coping that I was doing for it was, well, every time I was in the quarters, I played Djokovic. I think that was my way to just protect my ego,” Fritz said post-match.

The American was a man on a mission, hitting 45 winners – including 12 aces – with 48 unforced errors, but standing up in crucial tiebreakers. Hr was able to remain consistent on serve – collecting 81 per cent of his points off his first serve and 53 per cent off his second serve, toppling one of the best servers in the game in Zverev.

“It’s cool I’m in the semis,” Fritz said, “but I very much have the mindset of, ‘The job’s not done,’ and I keep taking it one match at a time like I’ve been all tournament and focus on the next match ahead of me.”

In the other quarter final, Tiafoe made it an all-American semi after fending off Bulgarian ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov who was forced to retire midway through the fourth set. Tiafoe won 6-3 6-7 6-3 4-1, and while he hit 12 less winners (26-38), had far fewer unforced errors (37-51), and was able to win two thirds of his second serve points to go with a successful first serve percentage (74 per cent).

“You guys get to see me again, against another American, so Friday is going to be one hell of a day,” Tiafoe said post-match.