Tiafoe into Open semis, ending American drought

08.09.2022, 11:24 espn.com

About 20 minutes after Frances Tiafoe earned the first trip to the US Open semifinals Wednesday by an American man since 2006, he met up in an Arthur Ashe Stadium foyer with a host of friends, Washington Wizards All-Star guard Bradley Beal among them. Everyone traded hearty hugs and huge smiles. Tiafoe shouted, "Let's pose for a dope photo!" and they obliged. As the nine-person line stood together, someone yelled, "Throw up a 'Dub!'" so Tiafoe and others formed a "W" -- as in win -- by joining thumbs and index fingers on both hands. Tiafoe's girlfriend ran through the nearby double doors, jumped into his arms, gave him a kiss, then wiped away lipstick from his mouth. Most assuredly a showman and someone striving for years for this sort of success on big stages, Tiafoe sure is enjoying the ride, as are his pals, his parents and the partisan fans, who last celebrated a Grand Slam trophy for a man from the United States two decades ago.