Frances Tiafoe, the local favorite, secured his place in the quarterfinals of the US Open by defeating Daniil Medvedev, the champion from 2021. This victory marks a significant milestone in Tiafoe’s career, as he showcased his skills at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, where he received enthusiastic support from the crowd.
He achieved a remarkable 25th hard-court win this season with a score of 7-6(1), 6-4, 7-6(6).
Reflecting on his performance, Tiafoe expressed his excitement, stating, “What a match! Daniil has been incredible, and he has had the upper hand against me in the past. This is my first victory over him in a regular match, and I am thrilled about it.”
Having previously lost six out of seven encounters with Medvedev, Tiafoe displayed a renewed vigor during the nearly three-hour match, maintaining an impressive 10-0 record at the Louis Armstrong Stadium. He will face fellow American Alex Michelsen in the quarterfinals.
Tiafoe shared his appreciation for the atmosphere, saying, “Playing on this court has been amazing; the energy is incredible. It feels like the people’s court, and I am truly enjoying it.”
Last week, Tiafoe reached the finals of the Cincinnati Open but fell short against Arthur Fils in three sets. In New York, he has won all three of his matches without dropping a set, following a five-set victory over Martin Damm in his opening match.
Shelton Sets Up Quarterfinal Match with Alcaraz
Meanwhile, Ben Shelton has also advanced to the quarterfinals, where he will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Shelton defeated former world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas with a convincing score of 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. After battling through four sets against Tallon Griekspoor, Hubert Hurkacz, and Denis Shapovalov, Shelton found his rhythm at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, eliminating Tsitsipas in just one hour and 51 minutes.
At 23 years old, Shelton has reached his sixth Grand Slam quarterfinal and his second at the US Open, having previously made it to the semifinals in 2023. Although Alcaraz has won all three of their previous encounters, they have not faced each other since the last year’s French Open.