By Janina Nuno Rios
NEW YORK, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Frances Tiafoe said learning to close out matches will be his next challenge after falling to compatriot Ben Shelton in the U.S. Open semi-finals on Friday, but the 11th seed left New York proud of a season that will lift him back into the world's top 10.
Tiafoe, appearing in his third U.S. Open semi-final, was unable to take the final step, falling to eighth seed Shelton 4-6 6-3 6-3 7-5.
Yet his run at Flushing Meadows guaranteed the 28-year-old will
climb to a new career-high ranking of world number eight once the post-tournament rankings are released, returning him to the top 10 for the first time since 2023.
"It's been a great season for me, but also, you know, this one is tough," Tiafoe told reporters.
"We wanted to win this one. You know, it's just the last couple of weeks, it's been great weeks, but haven't been able to finish, and that's probably going to be the next thing for me.
"I was doing my interview here last year, and it was really bad how I felt where I was at," he said. "I'm upset, but I'm at the same time so proud of myself of where I've been."
Tiafoe said his ultimate goal, winning a major title, remained unchanged.
"I want to do the thing, man. I want to be a Grand Slam champion one day and just get back to the drawing board and keep working," he said.
The support he receives in New York made another deep run particularly meaningful, but also left him wanting more.
"I just want to win it, man. I mean, the love is incredible. It's something that gives me definitely tears in my eyes from a kid starting how I did, and the love I have here is crazy."
He will now turn his attention to the final stretch of the season and a place at the ATP Finals in Turin, November's season-ending event for the highest-ranked players.
"I'm going to probably feel sorry for myself the next couple of days, but after that, I can start working again and get to Turin," he said.
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in New York; Editing by Tom Hogue)
