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American Francis Tiafoe reached the semifinal of the ongoing US Open 2024 as the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov had to retire due to an injury. It was the second time in three years that Tiafoe reached the semifinal after trailing 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-1 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
After winning the quarter-final match against Dimitrov, he will face Taylor Fritz in an all-American battle. Both the players will be looking to end a 21-year US men's title drought.
Dimitrov was retiring for the second time this year as he first retired in the fourth-round match against Daniil Medvedev in Wimbledon. On top of it, Dimitrov left the court to receive medical attention as he was clearly struggling due to the discomfort. The Bulgarian team even wanted him to give up.
Tiafoe's take on the match
The American after winning the match said, "It was a really, really high-level match. Obviously, I didn't want to end it like that."
The audience had started to leave the Arthur Ashe Stadium as Tiafoe gave a hug to his opponent near the nets and started celebrating.
It was evident from the outset that Tiafoe was playing exceptional Tennis as the American broke Dimitrov's serve in the fifth game with a backhand winner. As he continued his dominance, he reached yet another break point that he converted on Dimitrov's forehand error.
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After having a 4-1 lead in the second set, Dimitrov showed signs of a comeback. But, things were just not going in favour of Dimitrov as Tiafoe's superior skills and the Bulgarian's unforced errors put the match back in favour of Tiafoe. Despite a close tiebreak, Tiafoe emerged victorious, showcasing his resilience and determination.
Francis Tiafoe vs Grigor Dimitrov: Turning point of the match
The turning point of the match came in the third set when Dimitrov's physical condition began to deteriorate. After awkwardly stepping on the baseline, Dimitrov winced in pain, and ultimately had to take a break which meant in losing of momentum. Before the fourth set, Dimitrov had to seek medical attention but despite his efforts, Tiafoe's consistency proved too much for the Bulgarian.
Tiafoe's victory over Dimitrov showed his exceptional talent and preparation. It also proved that he can maintain a high level of performance throughout the match and along with his strategic play, it allowed him to dominate his opponent.
The semifinal stage is set as Tiafoe will face another American, Taylor Fritz. The tennis world eagerly anticipates a thrilling showdown between two formidable players.
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