New York when Taylor Fritz a 26-year-old from California and Francis tifo a 26-year-old from Maryland stroe under the Arthur Ash Stadium lights Friday night for the first US Open semi-final matching two American men in 19 years the crowd might have been forgiven for not knowing which to support there was a burst of clapping right before the initial point a curtain razor befitting the show about to unfold once the contest got going maybe the momentum shifts made it tough to choose between a pair of close Pals who've known each other since they were playing tournaments for kids younger than 14 in the end the Roars were for Fritz who surged with a six-game run against a fading and frustrated TFO to come out on top four to six 7 to5 4 to six 6 to four 6 to1 and reach his first Grand Slam final