American Frances Tiafoe swept past former champion Daniil Medvedev in straight sets Sunday to advance to the quarter-finals of the US Open. Medvedev held leads in two of the three sets, but was outplayed by the American at key junctures. A two-time semi-finalist at New York’s Flushing Meadows, the 11th-seeded Tiafoe defeated seventh-seeded Medvedev of Russia 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) to reach the quarter-finals for the fourth time in five years.
“I played well when it counted,” Tiafoe said. “Yeah, I came up with some crazy stuff, but it had to be that good against such a quality player in Daniil.”
He has won two ATP titles and notched a win over Carlos Alcaraz at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament. He also took a virtual basketball shot, acknowledging hoop stars Lisa Leslie, AJ Dybantsa and Victor Oladipo who were in his cheering section. “It’s like the people’s court. I’m loving the energy for sure. Still, the Russian held a set point in the third-set tiebreaker. But Tiafoe got the better of a net exchange between the men, then proceeded to take the next two points to seal the win.
Medvedev served for the first set, but was broken at 6-5 and then lost the tiebreaker decisively. Tiafoe, who reached the final of the pre-US Open warmup tournament in Cincinnati, will next play fellow American Alex Michelsen, a 22-year old who will play his first Grand Slam quarter-final.
“The energy has been amazing,” Tiafoe told a court-side interviewer. “I should have played better in some moments of the match,” Medvedev said.
After the match, Tiafoe stood before the crowd and pointed to his ear, asking for noise.
