Tiafoe on US Open SF loss: 'This one is going to hurt really bad'

Frances Tiafoe was not quick to shy away from his feelings on Friday following his devastating five-set defeat to countryman Taylor Fritz at the US Open.

The American, who was competing in his second major semi-final, led 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, but ultimately fell short. Tiafoe struggled with cramping in the deciding set and was unable to drag himself across the finish line.

“It's really, really tough. Really, really tough to swallow. This one is going to hurt really, really bad,” Tiafoe said in his post-match press conference. “I thought I was the better player for sure. In the fourth, I don't know, I just had some in-and-out cramps. I just felt my body kind of shut down on me.

“It probably had a lot to do with nerves. I wasn't tired at all. Just, to get into the final, probably the closest I was obviously when I played [Carlos] Alcaraz I was hanging for dear life to go five. Here I was really in a position to win. I was almost able to be in that position.

“I have been feeling unbelievable physically. But also it could be a testament to how many matches I've played in the short time and I haven't played that many matches all year like that. Ultimately, I think nerves got the better of me tonight.”

Tiafoe drank fluids and salts during the changeovers in the fourth and fifth sets but they ultimately did not help him overcome Fritz, who is aiming to become the first American to win a major since Andy Roddick in 2003.

“I tried to give everything for the fifth set. I tried a bunch of different things. I had a bunch of pickle juice, I was gargling and spitting it out. I was eating, doing kind of everything I could,” Tiafoe said. “Obviously just trying to give it one last shot, right? It was the fifth set of a semis of a slam, try to give it everything you got. Sometimes it's not meant to be.”

With his run to the semis, Tiafoe has climbed four spots to No. 16 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is up to 14th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, keeping alive an outside chance of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals.

In time, the 26-year-old believes he can take the positives from his run.

“For a really, really long time, obviously this is going to hurt. I'm going to turn the page, I'm going to try to end the year strong. I'm going to go to Asia, do the whole thing, do it the right way,” said Tiafoe, who also reached the final in Cincinnati last month. “I'm going to go to Laver Cup and compete. I'm going to let this sting, but I'm going to learn from this. I'm going to work really hard. I'm going be in these positions again, for sure. Just hoping for a different outcome.”

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