Outside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night, dozens of tennis fans gathered, staring at screens broadcasting the match inside the All-American men’s semifinal between Francis Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz.
Many people didn’t have tickets to be inside Arthur Ashe, but were content just to be nearby and part of the atmosphere. US Open fans are excited this week, for the first time in more than two decades that an American man and an American woman will both play in the US Open singles final.
Jessica Pegula will play Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s final on Saturday afternoon, and Taylor Fritz will take on Janic Siner for the men’s title on Sunday.
With the Americans’ presence in the final assured, the court at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens almost felt like the Fourth of July. Fans are cheering louder than usual for American players, flocking to practices and wrapping themselves in red, white and blue to catch a glimpse of their favorite players.
The US The last time the United States was represented at the Open was in 2002 in the men’s and women’s finals. The final that year was an all-American affair, with Pete Sampras defeating Andre Agassi in the men’s final, and Serena Williams winning the women’s final. title in a match against her sister, Venus Williams.
This year, fans said, felt like a culmination of a moment in American tennis, especially after Coco Goff won the US Open last year.
Wolver Ron, who lives in Manhattan, has come to the US Open to watch Arthur Ashe, Sloane Stephens, Coco Goff and both Williams sisters win titles. She said the future of American tennis was “definitely promising”.
“I hope I see Frances Tiafoe win the US Open,” she said Friday afternoon.
The party at the Open started last week, with Record-breaking crowds in the first five days The excitement surrounding the tournament, and the Americans, is building to a fever pitch. On Thursday night, two American women were in the semifinals: Ms. Pegula and Emma Navarro, who was born in New York.
Throughout Thursday night, the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium rallied behind the two American women, coming alive every time she hit a winner or held a match. At times, the crowd even cheered when non-American opponents lost a point.
Ms. Navarro eventually lost to Ms. Sabalenka, who told reporters after the match that she had to contend with a crowd that favored Navarro’s victory.
“They’re excited for him, but how can they help him win the match?” Ms Sabalenka said on Thursday night. “Only if I let them into my mind.” She added that stadium noise can be “the hardest”.
On Friday afternoon, before the two American men took to the court at Arthur Ashe to duel for a place in the final, the fans on the field were already eager to support the Americans.
Jane Otto, 50, and Ginny DeHart, 47, of Mississippi, expressed their devotion ironically. Ms. Otto wore an American flag sweater, while Ms. DeHart’s blue shirt had “USA” printed in red, white and blue letters. She also wore red, white and blue earrings that looked like two strands of firecrackers dangling from her ears.
“Hey!” cried Mrs. DeHart. “We are from the USA! We’re trying to make sure everyone knows we’re proud!” She then launched into her own rendition of “God Bless the USA”, a Lee Greenwood hit.
“I love our country,” Ms. Otto said. “We love Tiafoe, and we love Fritz. It’s going to be an amazing match. This is history tonight.”
Dozens of fans flocked to the practice court Friday afternoon to catch a glimpse of both men hours before their match. Fans cheered as Mr. Tiafoe walked onto Practice Court 1 in the northwest corner of the arena wearing a New York Knicks Carmelo Anthony jersey.
Fans pulled out their phones to take pictures and videos, and when it was over, his coach, David Witt, hit the ball into the stands for fans sitting in the sun to watch practice.
Kevin Smith, who caught a ball and traveled to the tournament from Maryland, was excited for the All-American men’s semifinals.
“It’s a great time to be an American,” Mr. Smith, 34, said.
Lew Sher, chief executive and executive director of the United States Tennis Association, said in an interview on Friday that the Americans’ strong performance at the tournament has boosted enthusiasm and interest in the sport.
“Because those Americans are trying to accomplish something that we haven’t done in a while,” he said. “We’re all feeling the energy.”
Players are also feeling the buzz. A crowd gathered around Ms Pegula during her semi-final match against Karolina Muchova on Thursday. Loud cheers of “Come on, Jess” and “Let’s go, Jessie” rang out from around the stadium.
After a flat start, Ms. Pegula said, support from fans at the stadium helped her. Ms. Pegula won the match.
“I think the crowd really helped me get my adrenaline going,” she said after the match.
On Friday, as the men’s semifinal match progressed, the crowd seemed to be cheering equally loudly for each player, but then quickly calmed down during the game, realizing the gravity of the moment.
“Come on, Taylor,” shouted a fan in Section 131 during the second set, quickly adding, “And Francis, too!”
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