After triumphing at Flushing Meadows, Jannik Sinner feels the next generation of stars on the ATP Tour push each other on.

Sinner won his second grand slam title by beating Taylor Fritz 6-3 6-4 7-5 in the US Open final on Sunday.

The Italian became the third youngest player in the Open Era to win the title at the Cincinnati Open and Flushing Meadows during the same season after Andy Roddick (2003) and John McEnroe (1981).

He is the third youngest player during the Open Era to register a minimum of 23 wins in grand slam matches during a single season, older only than Pete Sampras (23-2, 1993) and Rafael Nadal (24-2, 2008).

And while Novak Djokovic is still going strong, Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are spearheading a new generation of stars that are already living up to their potential.

"I feel like the new generation, we push each other," the world number one told ESPN after his win over 26-year-old Fritz.

"I always have players who are going to make me a better player, because there are going to be times where they beat me.

"Then you have to try to find a way how to win against certain players."

Alcaraz was among those to congratulate Sinner, with the Spaniard posting on his Instagram story after the final.

Fritz, meanwhile, became the second oldest American male in the Open Era to reach a maiden men's singles final at a grand slam, after MaliVai Washington (27 years 15 days) at Wimbledon in 1996.

He was looking to emulate Roddick's success from 2003, ending a 21-year wait for a homegrown champion at Flushing Meadows, but could not get over the line.

"There's obviously a lot of positives, and when I get some time to cool down then I'll be happy about the fact that I made it to the finals," reflected Fritz, who feels like he let fans down.

"But right now I'm pretty disappointed in just a lot of things on the court, how I played, how I hit certain shots. It sucks.

"And I'm not saying that it necessarily would have made a difference. I don't know if it would have, but I just would have liked to have played better and given myself a better chance. It's really disappointing right now.

"I feel like the fans obviously, American fans, been wanting a men's champion for a long time, and I'm pretty upset with how I played. I feel like, I don't know, I feel like I almost let a lot of people down."

Aryna Sabalenka's US Open triumph is proof you should "never give up on your dream".

Sabalenka, who lost to Coco Gauff in last year's US Open final, got the monkey off her back when she defeated Jessica Pegula at Flushing Meadows on Saturday.

The Belarusian prevailed 7-5 7-5 from a thrilling encounter on Arthur Ashe Stadium, with Pegula having reeled off five straight games to take a 5-3 lead in the second set before Sabalenka turned the tables back in her favour.

After becoming just the fifth woman to win both hard-court grand slam titles in the same season, Sabalenka said: "Everything I'm thinking, I remember all those tough losses in the past here and it's going to sound easy but never give up on your dream and just keep trying, keep working hard.

"If you're really working hard sacrificing everything for your dream, you're going to get it one day.

"I'm just super proud of myself. I never say that but I'm super proud of myself, I'm super proud of my team that no matter what, which situation we were facing this season and in the past, we were able to go through it and get all those beautiful trophies.

"It's also very special place here, the US Open. That's why it's very special, because no matter what, every time I was coming back stronger, and I was learning, I never gave up on this dream, and it means a lot."

Sabalenka is the sixth defending runner-up to win the US Open title in the Open Era, after Chris Evert (1980), Martina Navratilova (1986), Steffi Graf (1988 and 1995), Justine Henin (2007) and Serena Williams (2002 and 2012).

And though Pegula was the home favourite, there was still plenty of support from the crowd for Sabalenka.

She added: "That's everything, let's be honest without them it wouldn't be me and I wouldn't exist and as I always say without me you guys wouldn't exist too so you're welcome!

"No, no, I love you guys. Your support is everything and you're my family and I cannot imagine my tennis life and my personal life without you. I love you guys, I don't say it often but I will say it loud, thank you for being you."

Jessica Pegula looked back on an "incredible month" after losing 7-5 7-5 to Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final.

Pegula, the oldest American woman to reach her maiden grand slam final, fought back bravely in the second set on Saturday.

Ultimately, though, Sabalenka had too much, reeling off three straight games to win her third major title.

Pegula, who lost to Sabalenka in the final of the Cincinnati Open after winning the Canadian Open, could nevertheless look back on her achievements with pride.

She said: "It has been an incredible month for me.

"I had a tough start to the year but managed to turn it around. I didn't expect to be standing here and I'm grateful for the last few months of tennis and some incredible matches."

Pegula is the fifth player in the past decade to defeat three former women's major finalists en route to the US Open final. Each of the previous four went on to win the event – Flavia Pennetta (2015), Angelique Kerber (2016), Sloane Stephens (2017) and Coco Gauff (2023), however.

But Sabalenka proved just too strong, as the Belarusian became the fifth player during the Open Era to win both hard-court grand slams, after Monica Seles (1991,92), Steffi Graf (1988,89), Kerber (2016) and Martina Hingis (1997).

"I wish she would have at least let me get one set," quipped Pegula, who won five straight games to go from 3-0 down in the second set to 5-3 up.

"We had a tough match in Cincinnati a few weeks ago and she's one of the best in the world.

"She's super powerful and isn't going to give you anything, she can take the racquet out of your hand.

"I'm just glad I was able to stay in there and keep taking opportunities."

US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka credited Jessica Pegula after prevailing 7-5 7-5 in a thrilling Flushing Meadows final.

A topsy-turvy encounter saw Sabalenka cruise into a 3-0 lead in the second set, only for Pegula to reel off five straight games.

Yet Sabalenka regained her composure to propel herself back into the lead, with a long Pegula return from a ferocious volley sealing the Belarusian's maiden success in New York.

"Oh my God, I'm speechless right now," Sabalenka, last year's runner-up, said in the on-court presentation.

"So many times I thought I was so close to winning the US Open title, it's always been a dream of mine and finally I got this beautiful trophy. It means a lot, it was a really difficult couple of weeks."

Sabalenka then turned to Pegula, who became the oldest American player to compete in her first grand slam final.

"Jessica, I know how tough it was in the finals but you are showing some amazing tennis and I'm more than sure that you are going to get one [title], I mean not one, maybe more but let's start with one grand slam," said the Belarusian, who has now won three major titles.

"Congratulations on a great summer and you're an amazing player and in that second set honestly I was really praying for getting this win and not giving you one set.

"It means a lot, I'm literally speechless right now."

Pegula, who lost to Sabalenka at the Cincinnati Open last month, is the first player aged 30+ to reach their first grand slam singles final since Flavia Pennetta (33y 197d) and Roberta Vinci (32y 204d), at the 2015 US Open.

Aryna Sabalenka clinched the US Open title with a thrilling straight sets victory over Jessica Pegula.

A remarkable encounter swung one way and then the other at Flushing Meadows, before Sabalenka - who lost to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final - finally prevailed 7-7 7-5 in just under two hours on Saturday.

The Australian Open champion won her third major title at the culmination of an extraordinary comeback in the second set, after Pegula had won five consecutive matches to claw back from the brink herself.

Backed on by a partisan crowd, Pegula wasted little time in unsettling Sabalenka, taking the first two points on the Belarusian's serve and, despite the world number two fighting back, it was the American who clinched the first break in game three.

Yet Sabalenka responded with force, breaking twice in succession to storm into a 4-2 lead.

Pegula scrapped back with another break, and after saving four set points, clawed herself within one shot of taking the lead.

A stunning Sabalenka volley forced deuce, though, and a double-fault from Pegula suggested the pressure was starting to show.

Sabalenka firmly reset as she cruised into a 3-0 lead in set two, but a strong hold of serve saw Pegula get on the board.

Unforced errors handed Pegula a reprieve, which she duly took, and the fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium were on their feet when the sixth seed held her nerve to restore parity in the next game.

The jubilation only continued as Sabalenka slipped up again for Pegula to complete the turnaround, before thwarting a fightback from her opponent to win a fifth game on the spin.

But against the odds, Sabalenka hit back ferociously, reeling off two games to turn the tables yet again.  A first championship point went begging when the second set clipped the net, but when Pegula returned long from a venomous volley, Sabalenka's triumph was confirmed.

Second time lucky

It was heartbreak for Sabalenka at Flushing Meadows last season, but after skipping the Olympics to prepare for the hard-court swing, she has proven a worthy champion in New York this time around.

This final featured the two players who have dominated this season's North American swing, but Sabalenka ultimately had too much for world number six Pegula.

Sabalenka is the sixth defending runner-up to win the US Open women's singles title in the Open Era, after Evert (1980), Navratilova (1986), Graf (1988 and 1995), Henin (2007) and Serena Williams (2002 and 2012).

She is the fifth female, meanwhile, in the Open Era to win two major titles on hard court in the same season after Graf (1988 and 1989), Seles (1991 and 1992), Hingis (1997) and Kerber (2016).

However, she is the first player to finish the season with the most grand slam match wins (18, level with Jasmine Paolini this year) for successive years since Serena Williams in 2015 and 2016.

Iga Swiatek is understandably the leading light of women's tennis, but Sabalenka is truly worth her place alongside the Pole as a modern great.

Pegula no pushover

Midway through set two, Pegula looked down and out 3-0 down, yet the powers of recovery she displayed suggests that a maiden major title is within touching distance for the 30-year-old, who was competing in her first grand slam final. She is only the third player to do so after turning 30.

She is the fourth player in the Open Era to reach singles finals at the Canadian Open, Cincinnati Open and the US Open in the same year.

Pegula is one of just five players in the past decade to defeat three former grand slam finalists en route to the US Open final. Each of the previous four went on to win the event – Flavia Pennetta (2015), Angelique Kerber (2016), Sloane Stephens (2017) and Gauff (2023).

While that was not to be the case for Pegula this time around, there is nothing to say she cannot come back stronger next year, just like Sabalenka.

Jannik Sinner is confident the wrist issue that troubled him during Friday's US Open semi-final win over Jack Draper is "nothing to be concerned about" ahead of Sunday's final.

Sinner reached his first final at Flushing Meadows with an impressive 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 success over Draper, who had not dropped a single set en route to the final four.

While Draper vomited at the side of the court after struggling with anxiety, Sinner also called for medical attention after tweaking his left wrist in the second set.

The world number one stayed in a brutal rally despite falling awkwardly when playing a lob from deep on the court, then got up to slam a brilliant forehand winner past Draper.

He immediately received treatment on the affected wrist but showed few signs of discomfort from then on to become Italy's first-ever male finalist at the US Open.

"The physio loosened it up very fast on court, so after I felt okay in the beginning. Then after it went away by playing, which is good," Sinner told reporters after his win.

"Let's see how it is tomorrow when it's cold. It's going to be a different feeling. Hopefully it is nothing to be concerned about. 

"I'm quite relaxed, because if it's something bad, you feel it straightaway a bit more."

At the age of 23 years and 21 days, Sinner is the youngest man to reach the final at both the Australian Open and the US Open in a single year since the former event switched from grass surfaces in 1988, surpassing Roger Federer in 2004 (23 years, 34 days).

He will be up against a home favourite in Taylor Fritz on Sunday, and he accepts he will have to play the role of villain in the eyes of a raucous crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"It's normal. It's like when I play in Italy, so I'm going to accept that. I have my team and my people who are close to me," he said.

"In my mind, I know that there are many people watching from home from Italy, and I'll just take some support from them."

Fritz rallied to beat compatriot Frances Tiafoe in five sets having been both 1-0 and 2-1 down in Friday's second semi-final, and he said reaching the showpiece match represented the realisation of a lifelong dream in an emotional press conference. 

"It's just how I am. I'm more of an emotional person when I'm happy. When I'm really happy I cry at happy endings of movies and not at sad stuff. That's just how I am," Fritz said.

"It's just joy, the crowd cheering and that realisation, like, 'wow, I'm in the finals of the US Open. 

"It's such a lifelong dream come true. It's something I've worked my whole life for, to be in this situation. Realising that got me a little bit choked up."

Jack Draper believes it is "only a matter of time" before he goes all the way at a grand slam, having come up short in the US Open semi-finals versus Jannik Sinner.

Draper enjoyed a breakout campaign at Flushing Meadows, reaching the last four without dropping a set having never previously gone beyond the second round at any major.

However, he was beaten 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 by Sinner, later saying he had struggled with anxiety after being seen vomiting at the side of the court on several occasions.

"I'm a bit spent but that's the nature of sport, especially tennis, it's relentless, mentally, physically, emotionally," Draper told Sky Sports.

"You have to have everything as a tennis player. I'm obviously very proud of myself, and I can look back on it.

"Right now, I'm a bit emotional, a bit 'gone' that it had to end in that way but you have to respect that Jannik is the number one player in the world and he's incredible.

"I came a bit unstuck today but hopefully I will have many opportunities in the future."

The Brit does not expect this to be his final chance on the biggest stage, targeting regular appearances at the back end of grand slams in future.

"I've still got a lot to improve. At the end of the day, I need to keep on improving my physicality, my mentality, the way I play," Draper added.

"But there's no reason why I don't belong at the top of the game with these guys. I proved that to myself on a few occasions this year. 

"My goal now is to try and do it more consistently and put myself in front of these guys on a regular basis at the back end of tournaments.

"I think that is something I'm capable of. But it's just a matter of time."

Taylor Fritz will face Jannik Sinner in the US Open final after overcoming fellow American Frances Tiafoe in a five-set classic at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Both men were looking to take a huge step towards ending the United States' 21-year wait for a male champion at Flushing Meadows, and it was Tiafoe who took the opener despite giving up an early break, hitting back with two of his own in the fifth and seventh games.

Fritz rallied to take the second set, but Tiafoe came on strong again in the third, harnessing the support of the crowd and using his power to dominate rallies.

An early break proved enough for Tiafoe to go 2-1 up, and he found himself two games from victory at 4-4 in the fourth set.

However, a missed forehand at deuce gave Fritz set point, and Tiafoe then failed with an attempted drop shot to let his opponent force a decider.

The momentum switched from then on, with Fritz never looking back. He hit a massive backhand winner in his first return game of the decider to break, and though he later let a double-break advantage slip with a double fault, that was a momentary blip as he ran away with the fifth set.

After the win, Fritz hailed his coach Michael Russell for the calming effect he was able to exert after a tough start to the encounter.

"I felt I wasn't doing anything wrong, I was just getting overwhelmed," Fritz said. "I was freaking out a little bit and he told me to keep doing what I was doing, accept it was okay and keep making him do it. That helped to calm me down and let me know I was doing the right thing."

Data Debrief: Fritz the late bloomer

Among male players representing the United States, Fritz – at the age of 26 years and 313 days – is the second-oldest in the Open Era to reach a maiden grand slam final, after MaliVai Washington (27 years, 15 days) at Wimbledon in 1996.

It took Fritz 33 main-draw campaigns to reach his first major final, with only David Ferrer (42), Stanislas Wawrinka (36) and Kevin Anderson (34) requiring more in the Open Era.

He could become the first home winner of the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2003 on Sunday, when he faces Sinner in the showpiece match.

Jannik Sinner booked his place in the US Open final after overcoming a valiant effort from an unwell Jack Draper in straight sets at Flushing Meadows.

Sinner needed just over three hours to confirm the triumph, ending the Briton's impressive run in New York with a 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 triumph. 

The world number one impressed on serve, producing 11 aces to Draper's eight, with the Briton also serving 10 double faults, six of which came in the first set. 

In a contest decided by fine margins, an opening set that saw back-to-back break points was settled by Sinner with a love game to take the early advantage. 

But in testing conditions, Draper struggled and was seen vomiting, and was then unable to inflict enough damage on the Italian's service game as the second set went in the way of Sinner.

The Italian also recieved treatment to his left wrist after falling during a point he managed to win, going on to seal the win with an emphatic final set to end Draper's hopes of following in Andy Murray's footsteps at Flushing Meadows.

"First of all, me and Jack know each other very well, we are good friends off the court," Sinner started.

"It was a very physical match as we see. I just try to stay there mentally and he is so tough to beat.

"It is a very special occasion, thanks everyone for coming out. The support has been amazing. Just happy to be in the final here."

Sinner will look to secure his second major title of the year against either Taylor Fritz or Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semi-final taking place late on Friday.

Data Debrief: The Italian job close to completion

Sinner is the first Italian player to reach multiple men’s singles grand slam finals in the Open Era, and the second in tennis history after Nicola Pietrangeli.

Moving to a win-loss record of 60-18, only three players since 2000 have recorded 60 men’s singles wins in fewer grand slam matches than Sinner (78) – Carlos Alcaraz (70), Rafael Nadal (72) and Novak Djokovic (77).

Only Jimmy Connors (1974 and 1975) and Roger Federer (2004) have made the men’s singles finals at the Australian and US Open the same year, younger than the Italian (23 years and 21 days).

Jack Draper feels he belongs at the highest level ahead of his US Open semi-final clash with Jannik Sinner, pointing to June's Stuttgart Open success as a turning point in his career.

Draper will face Sinner for a place in the final of 2024's final grand slam on Friday, having crushed Alex de Minaur in straight sets in the last eight on Wednesday.

He could become the first British player to reach the men's singles final at Flushing Meadows since 2012, when Andy Murray beat Novak Djokovic. 

It has been a breakthrough tournament for the 22-year-old, who had never previously gone beyond the second round of a major, and he feels his maiden ATP success, which saw him beat Matteo Berrettini in the final in Germany, provided a major confidence boost.

"Winning Stuttgart was a huge moment for me," Draper told Tim Henman in an interview for Sky Sports. "I played two finals before that and both times I came up short.

"It was like I was a good enough player to do it but I just wasn't getting over the line and I think whatever level you're playing at, winning five matches and winning a tournament is an incredible achievement.

"When I won that one, it felt strange. There was a massive sigh of relief and it actually made me believe in myself a lot more. 

"It made me a lot more confident in my own skin and really made me believe that by beating the players that I beat, especially to win the tournament, I felt like I belonged a lot more at the really highest level."

Draper has only dropped 36 games at the US Open thus far. In the last 40 years (since 1985), only Djokovic (27 in 2016, 32 in 2012 and 33 in 2013) and Ivan Lendl (34 in 1987) have ever reached the men's semi-finals at the US Open while losing fewer games.

"A lot of the players know my talent and know my tennis capabilities and probably see me as a dangerous player," Draper added.

"It's been important for me to show my face on the tour most weeks and show that I'm physically robust. That mentally, I'm all in, and I'm doing all the right things, and that also gains respect from the other players."

Jack Draper labelled his US Open triumph over Alex de Minaur as a "dream come true", but insists he still has another level to come at Flushing Meadows. 

Draper, who is yet to drop a set at the tournament, advanced to his maiden grand slam semi-final in straight sets against the world number 10 in New York. 

In the last 40 years (since 1985), only Novak Djokovic and Ivan Lendl have reached the men's singles semi-finals at the US Open with fewer games dropped than the Briton this year (36).

Draper is also the lowest-ranked player left in the tournament, and is the first British men’s player to reach the semi-finals at the US Open since Andy Murray in 2012.

"It's amazing, honestly. To be out here in my first match on the biggest court in the world, honestly it's a dream come true for me," Draper said.

"Thank you for all the support, it means the world. I think I played a solid match and I feel the best fitness-wise that I've been in a long time.

"I think that's where Alex has got me in the past. I also think he was maybe struggling a little bit today with something and that may have helped me a little bit.

But standing in his way of reaching the final is world number one Jannik Sinner, who beat Daniil Medvedev in four sets at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. 

The Italian is the only player remaining in the tournament to win a grand slam title, having done so earlier this year at the Australian Open. 

And while the challenge looks an imposing one, Draper insisted he still has more in the tank as he aims to achieve what would be the biggest win of his career. 

"This is not an overnight thing for me," Draper added. "I felt like my level today was solid, there were some glimpse of really good stuff.

"I still have some levels to go if I get pushed."

Jessica Pegula admitted she was confident in beating a "prime" Iga Swiatek to reach her first grand slam semi-final at the US Open. 

Pegula, who had lost her previous six slam quarter-finals, came through in straight sets at Flushing Meadows to stun the world number one. 

She also became the fourth American in the Open Era to reach the women’s singles semi-final at the Canadian, Cincinnati and US Open in a calendar year after Rosemary Casals (1970), Serena Williams (2013-15) and Sloane Stephens (2017).

Pegula's triumph set up a meeting with Karolina Muchova for a place in the final after the Czech overcame illness to beat Beatriz Haddad Maia, also in straight sets. 

With Emma Navarro along with Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz advancing to the final four, it is the first time two Americans have reached the semi-finals in the women’s and men’s singles at the US Open since 2003, with Jennifer Caprati, Lindsay Davenport, Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi the first do so. 

It also marked Pegula's fourth victory over the Pole, with the latest win considered one of her best. 

"I've been [to the quarter-finals] so many freaking times but I kept losing," Pegula said. 

"Finally - finally - I can say I'm a semi-finalist. Thank you to the crowd, you carried me through that last game.

"To do it at prime time against the number one player in the world - it's crazy, but I knew I could do it."

Jack Draper swatted Alex de Minaur aside in straight sets to reach his maiden grand slam semi-final at the US Open on Wednesday.

World number 25 Draper has enjoyed a breakout tournament at Flushing Meadows, not dropping a set en route to becoming Britain's first US Open quarter-finalist since Andy Murray in 2016, and he carried that form into the last four.

The opening set featured three straight breaks of serve early on but it was Draper who edged that battle, dictating the tempo from deep and winning 84% of points behind his first serve as he took the opener 6-4.

De Minaur struggled to handle the 22-year-old's heavy groundstrokes as he gave up another early break in the second set, only to hit back to level things up at 4-4.

Draper, though, held his nerve after going 5-4 down, holding to love then immediately breaking to surge into a two-set lead.

He only improved from there and dominated the third set, producing one highlight-reel winner from his left hand after being forced to improvise with a series of lobs from deep.

Breaks in games five and seven brought up a chance to serve for the match, and Draper produced four outstanding points in succession to clinch his place in the last four, where he will face Jannik Sinner or Daniil Medvedev.

Data Debrief: Draper dominates again

For a player who had never previously gone beyond round two at any grand slam, the manner of Draper's progression at Flushing Meadows has been astonishing.

He has only dropped 36 games at the tournament thus far. In the last 40 years (since 1985), only Novak Djokovic (27 in 2016, 32 in 2012 and 33 in 2013) and Ivan Lendl (34 in 1987) have ever reached the men's semi-finals at the US Open while losing fewer games. 

Karolina Muchova reached the US Open semi-finals for a second straight year by beating Beatriz Haddad Maia in straight sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Muchova, who was felled in the last four by eventual champion Coco Gauff last year, missed the first two grand slams of 2024 after undergoing wrist surgery, before going out in the first round at Wimbledon.

The 2023 French Open runner-up made a blistering start to Wednesday's quarter-final, though, breaking at the first two attempts and needing just over half an hour to clinch the opener 6-1.

She then appeared to struggle with illness in the second set and was broken to love immediately after registering another break of her own, with two double faults thrown in along the way.

The world number 55 rallied magnificently, though, converting the second of two break points to immediately restore her advantage at 4-3 before receiving treatment courtside. 

Haddad Maia sought treatment herself after appearing to be in distress during the very next game, but the stop-start nature of the contest did not affect Muchova, who sealed her 6-1 6-4 victory with a huge ace.

She will face either world number one Iga Swiatek or home favourite Jessica Pegula for a place in the final on Friday, with their quarter-final clash taking place later on Wednesday.

Data Debrief: Muchova's New York upturn

A trip to Flushing Meadows has proven to be just the tonic for Muchova following a difficult start to the year.

In fact, she is the first woman to reach the semi-finals of the US Open having arrived at the tournament without a single grand slam victory all season since 2020, when Jennifer Brady achieved the feat.

She is also just the second Czech player to reach the last four while winning all five of her matches in straight sets in the Open Era, after Jana Novotna, who did so in 1994 and 1998.

Alexander Zverev had "no answers" as he lamented a dismal display in his US Open loss to Taylor Fritz.

Fritz downed Zverev 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3) in the last eight on Wednesday.

In the process, Fritz reached his maiden grand slam semi-final, and will face fellow American Frances Tiafoe for a place in the showpiece match at Flushing Meadows.

World number four Zverev, meanwhile, had to lick his wounds after what he labelled a "terrible" performance.

“I played terrible," said Zverev.

"I just have no answers right now. He played quite a good match. I did nothing to deserve to win."

Matters could have not been more different for 12th seed Fritz, however.

"I feel amazing," he said. "I've had a lot of looks at quarter-finals in the past couple of years, and today just felt different.

"I really feel that it was my time to take a step further and it;s only fitting I'm doing it here on this court at the [US] Open in front of this crowd.

"Today just felt different. I really felt like it was my time to go a step further. It's only fitting I'm doing it here on this court, at the Open, in front of this crowd."

With Tiafoe also progressing to the last four, it will be the first time two Americans have played each other in the US Open semi-finals since 2005.

The last time an American man reached the final at Flushing Meadows was in 2006, when Andy Roddick lost to Roger Federer in 2006.