Frances Tiafoe continued his impressive run at the US Open, reaching the quarter-finals for the third consecutive year. He achieved this feat by overcoming a tough opponent in Alexei Popyrin, who had just pulled off a stunning upset against defending champion Novak Djokovic in the third round. The match, held at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, saw Tiafoe embrace the energy of the home crowd, drawing inspiration from the very arena where he dreamt of playing as a child.
Tiafoe’s victory wasn’t a walk in the park. Popyrin, known for his powerful serves, unleashed 24 aces throughout the match. However, he also committed nine double faults and made several costly unforced errors, allowing Tiafoe to gain the upper hand. The American’s unwavering focus and brilliant shot-making proved to be the difference-maker.
Tiafoe displayed his resilience early on, fending off two break points in the fourth game of the first set and eventually breaking Popyrin’s serve in the ninth game. The momentum continued in the second set, despite Popyrin gaining an early advantage by holding his serve in a tense five-deuce game. Despite this, Tiafoe emerged victorious in a tense tiebreak, showcasing his strong forehand shots.
Popyrin bounced back in the third set, breaking Tiafoe’s serve in the third game and extending his lead with a powerful backhand winner in the seventh game. However, the Australian’s momentum faltered in the fourth set. He committed a double fault in the sixth game, handing Tiafoe the crucial break he needed. Tiafoe eventually closed out the match on the third match point, unleashing a forehand winner that kissed the line, to the delight of the roaring crowd.
Tiafoe, now set to face Bulgarian ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals, expressed his gratitude to the fans for their support, emphasizing that the Arthur Ashe Stadium brings out the best in him. His journey continues, with hopes of ending the 21-year US drought in the men’s majors.
