Marylander Frances Tiafoe breaks mold, makes home club proud with historic run to U.S. Open semifinals

Bedtimes had long passed by the time Friday night’s U.S. Open semifinal ended around midnight, but still some youth members of the Junior Tennis Champions Center remained glued to a television screen as Marylander and JTCC alumnus Frances Tiafoe gave a post-match interview. Tiafoe lost in five thrilling sets to No. 3 seed Carlos Alcaraz, but his U.S. Open run was nevertheless spectacular and captivating. The 24-year-old became the first American man to reach a U.S. Open semifinal in 16 years and the first Black man to do so since Arthur Ashe, the man whom the stadium Tiafoe played in Friday night is named after, in 1972. With the best performances of his career, including a win over legend Rafael Nadal, Tiafoe launched himself to international relevance and the edge of stardom.