Tiafoe is hoping to achieve the ultimate at Flushing Meadows for the primary time, following semi-final defeats by Alcaraz in 2022 and Taylor Fritz in 2024.
But it surely was a straight-set third-round loss to Jan-Lennard Struff in final yr’s match which caused a change in coach – and mentality.
“This time final yr he was shedding matches due to his health, now right here we’re 4 hours and 40 minutes right into a match and he is raining down the quickest serve of the match,” former Grand Slam doubles champion Ryan Harrison informed Sky Sports activities.
“That is why he put the onerous work in on the health club when no one’s watching. On the finish of final yr when he was having to listen to all of the chatter about his dedication, issues he wasn’t doing nicely – at 28 years outdated it is so onerous to make a change like that, and his willingness to undergo the method.
“For him to undergo all that work, to combat to place himself on this place its nice to see.”
Whereas it has taken till now for Tiafoe’s renewed work-ethic to bear fruit in a significant, he’s unequivocal when requested how he compares to the participant that reached the final 4 beforehand in New York.
“I am only a totally different individual normally,” he mentioned.
“These two runs had been nice, one thing I’ll cherish eternally, however I am not that one who I used to be after I made one in 2022 and after I made one in 2024. I am not that individual.
“I believe I have been so routine-oriented all yr, simply repeatedly on a routine. Ideally you need to make every single day really feel the identical.”