NEW YORK, Sept ⁠12 (Reuters) - Frances Tiafoe said learning to close out matches will be his next ⁠challenge after falling to compatriot Ben Shelton in the U.S. Open semi-finals on Friday, ‌but the 11th seed left New York proud of a season that will lift him back into the world's top 10.

Tiafoe, appearing in his third U.S. Open semi-final, was unable to take the final step, falling to eighth ​seed Shelton 4-6 6-3 6-3 7-5.

Yet his run at Flushing ⁠Meadows guaranteed the 28-year-old will climb ⁠to a new career-high ranking of world number eight once the post-tournament rankings are released, returning ⁠him ‌to the top 10 for the first time since 2023.

"It's been a great season for me, but also, you know, this one is tough," Tiafoe told reporters.

"We wanted ⁠to win this one. You know, it's just the last ​couple of weeks, it's been ‌great weeks, but haven't been able to finish, and that's probably going to be ⁠the next thing ​for me.

"I was doing my interview here last year, and it was really bad how I felt where I was at," he said. "I'm upset, but I'm at the same time so proud of myself of ⁠where I've been."

Tiafoe said his ultimate goal, winning a ​major title, remained unchanged.

"I want to do the thing, man. I want to be a Grand Slam champion one day and just get back to the drawing board and keep working," he said.

The ⁠support he receives in New York made another deep run particularly meaningful, but also left him wanting more.

"I just want to win it, man. I mean, the love is incredible. It's something that gives me definitely tears in my eyes from a kid starting how I did, ​and the love I have here is crazy."

He will now turn ⁠his attention to the final stretch of the season and a place at the ATP Finals ​in Turin, November's season-ending event for the highest-ranked players.

"I'm going ‌to probably feel sorry for myself the next ​couple of days, but after that, I can start working again and get to Turin," he said.

(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in New York; Editing by Tom Hogue)