Carlos Alcaraz defeats Frances Tiafoe at the US Open semifinals in a battle of tennis’ rising stars. (1:28)
TENNIS, ONTARIO — The United States Open has been home for a generation of talented young players who have dominated the sport for decades, many earning Grand Slam titles in their debut appearances on the Grand Slam stage.
But the last eight years have been a nightmare for one of them.
The four-times major champion and two-time Grand Slam champion Sam Querrey will meet Roger Federer in an epic, all-American semifinal for the third consecutive year.
The final will be their first and perhaps last time competing against each other.
“Sam and I both grew up watching Rafa,” Federer said. “We were in the same age group. That’s what I remember the best. I think of him as my best friend. I loved watching him play. Sam was there every single day, on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, in the practice rooms. If you didn’t really like him, you’d be upset he was there. He was just a cool guy — fun, fun-loving, great tennis person.
“He’s worked his whole life to get to this point and I’m so proud of him. He’s an amazing champion, a real talent. I can’t wait to play with him.”
Sam Querrey and Roger Federer will meet in the third-seeded Americans’ U.S. Open semifinal on Saturday night. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Querrey, who is ranked No. 2 in the world, has won 14 Grand Slam singles titles, including four at the US Open, in the last six years. He has spent the final three years trying to make the best and most difficult of his final three Grand Slam semi-finals this time around, and he’s done just that.
The only player to defeat him on any surface other than clay has been Rafael Nadal. Querrey has dropped only nine sets, but the two times he lost the match he didn’t have enough time to prepare.
It was his fifth US Open