There will be an American man in the U.S. Open semifinals. Maybe more, but at least one.
Fellow Americans Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen will go head-to-head in the quarters at Flushing Meadows after they won their respective fourth-round matches on Sunday afternoon. Less than an hour after Michelsen beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-4, Tiafoe took down Daniil Medvedev 7-6(1), 6-4, 7-6(6).
Tiafoe recovered from a break deficit in both the first and third sets, even saving a set point in wild fashion with Medvedev serving at 6-5 in the second-set tiebreaker. The 28-year-old closed out the match two points later, getting the job done in two hours and 57 minutes.
Heading into Sunday, Tiafoe had been 1-6 all time against Medvedev on the main tour — his lone win coming at the 2024 Laver Cup (a relative exhibition). The world No. 12’s record in Louis Armstrong Stadium is much, much better. His win over the Russian makes Tiafoe a perfect 10-0 in Armstrong for his U.S. Open career.
“What a match,” he said during his on-court interview. “Daniil has been so good and he has beaten me so many times. This is the first time I have beaten him in a regular match, so I am super pumped up about it…. It has been amazing playing on this court — the energy, man. It is like the people’s court. I am loving the energy, for sure.”
This marks Tiafoe’s fourth trip to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open and he is bidding for his third semifinal appearance.
American Ben Shelton is also still alive in the bottom half of the draw, while compatriot Learner Tien is the lone representative from the host nation in the top half of the bracket.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on Twitter at @Dimonator.