Frances Tiafoe is hoping to inspire a new generation of Black tennis players after moving to within two wins of becoming the first African-American man in 54 years to win the US Open. 

Tiafoe, 24, has lit up this year’s championships after a giant-killing run that saw him eliminate Rafael Nadal before Wednesday’s quarter-final demolition of Russian ninth seed Andrey Rublev. Tiafoe’s assured 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-0), 6-4 victory over Rublev has left the 22nd seed on course to become the first Black male player to win the Open since Arthur Ashe in 1968.