“Frances Tiafoe Triumphs Over Alexei Popyrin to Reach US Open Quarterfinals”
Getty image
Frances Tiafoe Advances to US Open Quarterfinals
Victory Over Alexei Popyrin
American Frances Tiafoe has secured his spot in the US Open quarterfinals for the third consecutive year. Tiafoe defeated No. 28 Alexei Popyrin of Australia with scores of 6-4, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3 in a match that lasted just over three hours.
Emotional Reflections
After his win, Tiafoe reflected on his childhood dreams. “I always dreamt about playing on this court,” he said. Tiafoe admired the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, naming the Williams sisters and Roger Federer as inspirations.
Fan Appreciation and Celebrity Shout-Out
Tiafoe took a moment to express his excitement about the crowd and shout out to actor Tony Goldwyn. “Yo, I’m a huge fan of you, bro,” Tiafoe told Goldwyn, highlighting his admiration for the actor and his show “Scandal.”
Looking Ahead
Tiafoe will next face No. 9 Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals. Dimitrov, 33, is the oldest player remaining in the tournament and defeated No. 6 Andrey Rublev in the round of 16.
Respect for Popyrin
Tiafoe praised Popyrin for his performance, especially after Popyrin’s impressive victory over Novak Djokovic in the third round. “Beating Novak is a huge win,” Tiafoe noted, acknowledging Popyrin’s high level of play.
Upcoming Challenge
The match against Dimitrov will be Tiafoe’s first meeting with the Bulgarian in their careers. Dimitrov holds a 3-1 record over Tiafoe in their previous encounters.
“Popyrin Praises Tiafoe’s ‘Scary’ Tennis After US Open Match”
Getty Image
Popyrin’s Praise for Tiafoe
Alexei Popyrin acknowledged Frances Tiafoe’s exceptional performance after their US Open match. Popyrin stated that Tiafoe “was the better player no matter how close it was” and commended his ability to “step up on the bigger points.” The 25-year-old Australian described Tiafoe’s play as “scary tennis” and suggested that if Tiafoe maintains this level, he has a strong chance for success.
US Men’s Grand Slam Drought
The last American man to win a grand slam singles title was Andy Roddick, who claimed the US Open in 2003. Frances Tiafoe almost broke the drought in 2022. Tiafoe made a notable run by defeating Rafael Nadal and Andrey Rublev, but his journey ended in the semifinals against Carlos Alcaraz, the eventual champion.
Taylor Fritz Also Advances
Frances Tiafoe is joined in the US Open quarterfinals by No. 12 Taylor Fritz. Fritz overcame No. 8 Casper Ruud with a score of 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. This is Fritz’s fifth grand slam quarterfinal, marking back-to-back appearances at the US Open. He expressed that while reaching the quarterfinals is satisfying, he is aiming for more.
Fritz’s Next Challenge
Taylor Fritz’s next opponent will be No. 4 Alexander Zverev of Germany. Zverev, who was the runner-up at both the 2020 US Open and this year’s French Open, defeated Brandon Nakashima 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. Fritz has previously come from two sets down to defeat Zverev at Wimbledon. Zverev leads their head-to-head 5-4.
Tommy Paul and Jannik Sinner
In the opposite half of the draw, No. 14 Tommy Paul is set to face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the fourth round. This match will determine if any American remains in contention for the title as the tournament progresses.