The 12 American men to reach US Open final in Open Era as Taylor Fritz joins the list
Taylor Fritz has written his name in the record books as he joined an exclusive list of American men to reach the US Open final.
For the first time in 19 years, two American men faced off in a Grand Slam singles semi-final – at the US Open, of all places.
Fritz won in five sets to become the 12th US male player of the Open Era to reach the final of their home Slam, emulating some of the greatest stars in modern history.
We look at the 11 men that Fritz emulated.
Arthur Ashe: 1968, 1972
Ashe was the first US Open champion of the Open Era, defeating Tom Okker to lift the title in 1968 – the first of his three Grand Slam singles titles.
He reached the final for a second time in 1972, losing to Ilie Nastase.
Stan Smith: 1971
Perhaps now best known for his iconic shoe brand, Smith won the first of his two Grand Slam singles titles at his home major in 1971.
Smith battled past Jan Kodes to lift the title 53 years ago and would go on to win Wimbledon the next year.
Jimmy Connors: 1974-78, 1982-83
Connors is the joint record holder for men’s singles titles won in the Open Era, with five US Open trophies sitting on his mantlepiece.
He reached five straight finals from 1974-78, beating Ken Rosewall in 1974, and then Bjorn Borg in 1976 and 1978.
Connors was beaten in finals by Manuel Orantes in 1975 and Guillermo Vilas in 1977, though then beat Ivan Lendl in back-to-back finals in 1982 and 1983.
John McEnroe: 1979-81, 1984-85
McEnroe, another US icon – and one of Connors’ fiercest rivals – reached five US Open finals, winning four of them.
He won three straight titles from 1979-81, beating Vitas Gerualitis in his first final, and then fending off Borg in 1980 and 1981.
McEnroe returned to the final in 1984, beating Lendl, though the Czech turned the tables the following year.
Vitas Gerulaitis: 1979
One of the most beloved players of his generation, the late, great Gerulaitis reached the final of his home major in 1979 – falling to McEnroe in three sets.
Elsewhere, the former world No 3 was an Australian Open champion and French Open runner-up.
Pete Sampras: 1990, 1992-93, 1995-96, 2000-2002
Sampras is one of the most successful players in US Open history, matching Connors’ haul of five titles – and reaching a further three finals.
He beat compatriot Andre Agassi to win his first title in 1990 and then defeated Cedric Pioline in the 1993 final, having lost to Stefan Edberg the previous year.
Sampras defeated Agassi and Michael Chang for consecutive victories in 1995 and 1996 and, after losses to Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt in 2000 and 2001, beat Agassi again for his last win in 2002.
US Open News
Novak Djokovic’s rankings nightmare becomes a reality after Taylor Fritz win at US Open
Andre Agassi: 1990, 1994-95, 1999, 2002, 2005
A true star of American tennis, Agassi reached six finals at the US Open – winning the title twice.
The former world No 1 beat Michael Stich to win his first title in 1994, and five years later beat compatriot Todd Martin for his second victory in New York.
Alongside his three final losses to Sampras in 1990, 1995, and 2002, he also fell in the 2005 final to Roger Federer.
Jim Courier: 1991
A four-time major champion, Courier reached the final at all four Grand Slams – including his home major in 1991.
The American was unable to get his hands on the trophy that day, beaten by Edberg in straight sets.
Michael Chang: 1996
The youngest male Grand Slam winner of all time, Chang is best remembered for his run at the French Open in 1989.
However, the former world No 2 also found some success in New York, reaching his fourth and final Grand Slam title at the tournament in 1996 – falling to Sampras.
Todd Martin: 1999
A former world No 4 and winner of eight ATP titles, Martin is arguably one of the best players never to lift a Slam title.
The US star reached two Grand Slam singles finals, including at the US Open 25 years ago, where he was beaten by Agassi in five sets.
Andy Roddick: 2003, 2006
Former world No 1 Roddick remains the last American man to lift a Grand Slam title and reach the US Open final.
Roddick won his sole Slam on home turf with victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero in 2003, while he lost to Federer in the 2006 final.
He also remains – until this weekend – the last American man to play in any major singles final, reaching his last Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 2009.
