From Caroline Garcia to Frances Tiafoe, it's a 20-somethings resurgence at the US Open

NEW YORK — Caroline Garcia and Ons Jabeur were both 16 years old when they first played against one another at a Grand Slam event. A year later they met again with a spot in a major junior final on the line.

As heralded young players who frequently made deep runs in junior Slams, the two became very familiar with one another — ultimately meeting four times at the tournaments — and had similar sky-high expectations for their budding careers.

Their paths soon diverged, with Garcia achieving more immediate success on the WTA tour and Jabeur, who won the 2011 girls title at Roland Garros, needing years to make her major main draw debut after turning professional. But through twists and turns, and ups and downs, they will now meet on Thursday with each looking to advance to the first US Open final of their careers.

While the 2021 US Open showcased the rise of talented teenagers, including eventual champion Emma Raducanu, finalist Leylah Fernandez and quarterfinalist Carlos Alcaraz, this year's tournament is about a slightly older generation of players who have been grinding for years. In addition to Garcia and Jabeur, now both 28, Karen Khachanov, 26, advanced to his first major semifinal on Tuesday, as did Frances Tiafoe, who is very much a veteran on tour despite being only 24, on Wednesday.

«It's impressive because they didn't give up, and they found a way to keep going and to not only keep playing, but keep improving,» said Alexandra Stevenson, the former Wimbledon semifinalist and current ESPN analyst. «That says a lot. And now, their experience really plays into [their current success]. It helps these players keep their calm in tough moments.

»They know how to play their game style in all circumstances. The tour is more