Top-seeded Taylor Fritz defeated Andy Murray in a three-set match that was briefly delayed by climate protesters on Friday at the DC Open to advance to the semifinals. Three hours later, on a different court, Taylor Fritz defeated Jordan Thompson in the evening.
Frances Tiafoe, the second-seeded player and a fan favorite from nearby Maryland, was unable to replicate Fritz's achievement. He won one match on Friday but dropped his second, losing to No. 9 seed Dan Evans 6-4, 7-5, to exit the tournament in the quarterfinals.
Rain forced the cancellation of numerous matches on Thursday, including Fritz vs. Murray, confusing the schedule at the hard-court warm-up for the U.S. Open and forcing some players to play twice on Friday.
Fritz, a 25-year-old from California and the top-ranked American at No. 9, defeated Murray, a 36-year-old from Britain who won three Grand Slam titles before undergoing two hip operations, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4. Fritz hit 17 aces with "awful" tennis balls and saved all seven break points he faced in the third set.
The duration of that game, which Fritz described as being played at a "insanely high level," was almost three hours at the main stadium with a temperature of around 30 degrees Celsius and 60% humidity.
Fritz then defeated Thompson 6-3, 6-3 in a match that took place at John Harris Court in significantly less time: 1 hour, 17 minutes. With 41 victories this season, Fritz is now tied for third in the world with No. 3 Daniil Medvedev and No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
Fritz won the title in Atlanta last week and will compete against No. 12 seed Tallon Griekspoor on Saturday for a spot in Washington's final. "My body probably couldn't have handled another battle like I had with Andy," Fritz said.
"Playing with the heaviest balls for three hours? I can't say I've done that."