Frances Tiafoe previews 'epic' 2024 US Open semifinal vs. Taylor Fritz

“It's different in Ashe,” Tiafoe warned.

Tiafoe, into the semifinals in New York for the second time in three years, believes he has the intangibles on his side when he plays on the court he has turned into his own personal proving ground over the last three years.

“It's going to be a big one for both of us, playing for a [Grand Slam] final,” he said. “I don't think those [other seven] matches are anywhere near what this match would be, so it's kind of tough to even go from there. Playing quarters of the Acapulco 500 and playing semis in Arthur Ashe at nightㅡwell, hopefully at nightㅡit's a little different.”

They may be bitter rivals when Friday rolls around, but no matter who wins, Tiafoe and Fritz can be proud of the fact that it was their group that has ended a 15-year wait for an American Grand Slam finalist.

Tiafoe and Fritz have known each other since their junior days, and they’ve experienced their tennis journeys as competitors, teammates and friends. The 26-year-old Tiafoe says he’s taken plenty of inspiration from Fritz along the way.

The Southern California native even shared a vision with Tiafoe, about them one day being the top two Americans.

“I remember we were sitting on a plane some years ago,” Tiafoe recalls. “[Taylor’s] a pretty to-himself kind of dude, and he's, like, ‘Bro, I think me and you are going to be the No. 1 and No. 2 Americans, leading the way.’”

Tiafoe credits Fritz for pushing him to tap his enormous potential. Now they can battle it out to see who plays for the trophy on Sunday in Ashe.