TOKYO – Taylor Fritz joined Frances Tiafoe on Saturday in an All-American final at the Tokyo Tennis Tournament (ATP 500), where their compatriots last won was Pete Sampras in 1996.
No. 3 seed Taylor Fritz won Saturday’s semifinal against Canadian Denis Shapovalov after a contested match 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3.
Fritz had reached the semi-finals after Australian opponent Nick Kyrgios retired in the quarters with a knee injury.
The American player, who will play his ninth final on the ATP circuit on Sunday, is certain to take part in top 10 world at the end of this tournament, the best ranking of his career.
“What I’ve been able to do this week is pretty crazy when you think I wasn’t sure I could play in this tournament,” the 24-year-old said.
Fritz arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday after spending a week in quarantine at a hotel in Seoul affected by COVID-19.
He barely had time to practice before entering the tournament and defeating Australia’s James Duckworth in three sets.
On Sunday, he will face Francis Tiafoe, a semifinalist at the last US Open and the No. 4 seed, who beat South Korea’s Kwon Soon-woo in three sets, 6-2, 0-6, 6-4.
“It was a strange match but I’m happy to win it,” said the world number 19.
“I didn’t expect him to play like that. He played (a tennis) very fast and very aggressive. He was playing really well, obviously, but a win is a win and you get it,” he added.
Tiafoe explained that he and Fritz had grown closer thanks to the Laver Cup and their win at the end of September in the international group against Europe’s Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, for the first time in the history of the junior event.
“I love this guy. He’s a great competitor, he serves well, he’s got a huge forehand, he’s got confidence in himself and he’s improving… May the best man win,” Tiafoe concluded of Fritz.
