Frances Tiafoe, an American tennis player who previously reached the US Open semifinals, is once again making waves in New York. On Sunday night, Tiafoe entertained the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium as he secured a victory over his friend, Australia’s No. 28 Alexei Popyrin, with a score of 6-4, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3, advancing to the quarterfinals for the third year in a row.
After his victory, Tiafoe expressed his dream of playing on the iconic Arthur Ashe court, where he was inspired by the successes of the Williams sisters and Roger Federer. “It’s so iconic, obviously, named after Arthur Ashe, so I wanted to be a part of that. And it just brings out the best in me. And you guys are unbelievable fans, and it makes it so fun out here,” he said.
During the on-court interview, TV commentator Chris Eubanks was interrupted by Tiafoe, who excitedly acknowledged actor Tony Goldwyn in the crowd, expressing his admiration for the series “Scandal.”
Looking forward, Tiafoe is set to face No. 9 Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in the quarterfinals. Dimitrov, who is 33 years old, recently defeated No. 6 Andrey Rublev, showcasing his stamina and skill.
Tiafoe and Popyrin had never faced off before, and after the match, Popyrin praised Tiafoe’s performance, stating, “He’s playing some scary tennis,” and acknowledged Tiafoe’s ability to perform well under pressure.
In a seasoned field, Tiafoe and fellow American No. 12 Taylor Fritz are the only two men from the U.S. to have progressed to the quarterfinals of this year’s US Open. Fritz also advanced after coming back from a set down to beat No. 8 Casper Ruud, expressing his desire to go further this year than just the quarterfinals.
Fritz’s next challenge will be against No. 4 Alex Zverev, who recently triumphed over Brandon Nakashima. Zverev noted the increased difficulty as the tournament progresses, recognizing that the stakes are higher with each match.
Additionally, No. 14 Tommy Paul is the last American remaining in the opposite draw, facing world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the fourth round on Monday.