Tiafoe Comes up Short at US Open but Gives Hope to Weary American Fans

Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. after losing his semi-final match against Spain's Carlos Alcarazat the U.S. Open, in Flushing Meadows, New York, on Sept. 9,2022. Mike Segar/Reuters

NEW YORK—Frances Tiafoe came up short in his quest for a U.S. Open title but he walks out of Flushing Meadows having boosted hope for the future of American men’s tennis after reaching the semi-final.

The United States have not produced a men’s Grand Slam winner for nearly two decades after Andy Roddick hoisted a trophy at the U.S. Open, a stunning reversal of fortune since the golden years of Sampras and Agassi.