Sept. 4 (UPI) — Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe will fight for the right to become the first Americans to reach a Grand Slam men’s singles final since 2009 when they meet in the semifinals on Friday in Flushing, New York.

“I think we’ve all been knocking on the door,” Tiafoe told reporters Tuesday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. “Taylor has been in and out of the Top 10. … It was just a matter of time. When you put yourself in a certain position, it’s just a matter of time.”

The Americans secured a spot in the semifinals with respective quarterfinal victories on Tuesday at the 2024 US Open. Tennis Hall of Famer Andy Roddick was the last American to reach a Grand Slam final (Wimbledon 2009).

“It’s the first time since 2009 and hopefully I’ll be (in the final),” Tiafoe said.

Roddick was also the last American to appear in a US Open final (2006) and the last to win a Grand Slam (2003 US Open). Fritz and Tiafoe meet in the All-American semifinals in Flushing on Friday night. The match will be televised on ESPN.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun and just electric,” Fritz said. “It’s going to be great for the fans to guarantee that one of us goes to the final.”

Fritz, ranked No. 12, defeated No. 4 Alexander Zverev of Germany 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) to claim the top spot in the men’s semifinals on Tuesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Zverev led 14-12 in aces, 52-45 in winners and 42-48 in unforced errors.

He also converted 2 of the 4 breakpoint chances. Fritz earned 13 breakpoint chances, converting two, against Zverev. He relied on his big serve throughout the match, but was forced to adjust his delivery to keep his German opponent off-balance.

Fritz relied on his aggressive forehand and won 81% of the points with his first serve in the match that lasted 3 hours and 26 minutes.

Tiafoe, ranked 20th, defeated Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, ranked 9th, 6-3, 6(5)-7, 6-3, 4-1. Dimitrov was forced to surrender in the fourth set of that encounter due to a groin injury.

Tiafoe converted 6 of 14 breakpoint chances and recorded 26 winners and 37 unforced errors. Dimitrov converted 1 of 4 breakpoint chances and recorded 38 winners and 51 unforced errors in the 3-hour, 4-minute loss.

Fritz has a career record of 6-1 against Tiafoe and is the odds-on favorite to further lopsided that mark. Tiafoe’s only win came in 2016 at Indian Wells. Fritz last defeated Tiafoe in 2023 at Acapulco.

“It’s cool to be in the semis, but I really have the mindset that the job is not done yet,” Fritz said. “I’m going to keep taking it one match at a time, like I’ve been doing the whole tournament.”

The winner of the Fritz-Tiafoe match could face a Top 5 player in the final, with No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy and No. 5 Daniil Medvedev meeting in a quarterfinal on Wednesday night. No. 10 Alex de Minaur of Australia takes on No. 25 Jack Draper of Great Britain in another men’s singles quarterfinal at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The winner of the Draper-de Minaur match will face either Sinner or Medvedev from the other men’s team in the semi-finals.