Tiafoe overcomes Rublev to advance to the US Open semifinals.

On Wednesday, American Frances Tiafoe defeated Andrey Rublev in straight sets to go to the US Open semifinals.

[{"selector":"#anim-99816c79-b971-4047-876e-29b4c3ab06ad [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.248189691196398%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Tiafoe beat ninth-seeded Russian Rublev 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/0), 6-4 in 2 hours and 36 minutes,

[{"selector":"#anim-cac7f01f-3655-44cd-a9cf-e558eb4a72d5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(28.90624987200394%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

hoping to become the first African-American man to win the US Open since Arthur Ashe in 1968.

[{"selector":"#anim-f296d85e-11dd-4754-8e42-106106e919f2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.499999772451451%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Rafael Nadal, the greatest tennis player to ever represent Spain, was defeated by American teenager Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round on Monday.

[{"selector":"#anim-dcb5d397-1834-4304-b72f-f9bb86e9c136 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.23478073028922%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

On Friday, 22nd-seeded Tiafoe will play either Jannik Sinner or third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in his maiden Grand Slam semifinal match.

[{"selector":"#anim-223ed49a-b1f9-483a-9456-1a1d8d018ff3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.808849990546871%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Tiafoe, a son of Sierra Leonean immigrants who started playing tennis at the age of four while his father worked as a live-in caregiver at a tennis facility in Maryland,

[{"selector":"#anim-509a3e4d-8f95-447e-be86-541fa818c7b5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.890480335978293%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

During a fan interaction on the court, he said, "I always find a way somehow."

[{"selector":"#anim-738ae6cb-66b2-4a50-a169-913b9a7d7cef [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.248189691196398%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

A strong service game and an understanding of the crucial moments were the cornerstones of Tiafoe's triumph.

[{"selector":"#anim-c0dc679a-ab1a-4cec-8c87-11cf435a481f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(28.90624987200394%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]