Tiafoe ousts Djokovic-conqueror Popyrin to succeed in US Open QFs | ATP Tour

Match Report

Tiafoe ousts Djokovic-conqueror Popyrin to succeed in US Open QFs

American faces Dimitrov subsequent

September 02, 2024

Frances Tiafoe rising to the event on the US Open has turn into an annual custom. The ultimate main of the 2024 season has confirmed no totally different.

The twentieth seed superior to the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows for a 3rd consecutive 12 months on Sunday night when he defeated twenty eighth seed Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3 in three hours and two minutes. The house favorite will play ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov within the final eight.

“I at all times dreamt about enjoying on this court docket [since I was] a child. I used to hit towards the wall and needed to compete on this court docket,” Tiafoe mentioned in his on-court interview. “Seeing the Williams sisters win titles right here, seeing Roger win right here 1,000,000 instances, I used to be like ‘I simply need to play on this court docket’. It is so iconic, clearly named after Arthur Ashe, so I needed to be part of that. I feel it brings out the perfect of me.” 

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Tiafoe arrived in Cincinnati with a 19-18 tour-level file this season. Since then he has received 9 of 10 matches, together with a run to his first ATP Masters 1000 ultimate in Ohio and now his fourth main quarter-final.

The match was loads nearer than the scoreline signifies. Popyrin, who shocked 24-time main champion Novak Djokovic within the third spherical, led the second set 5-2 and earned three set factors on serve at 5-3, 40/0 earlier than his second serve let him down within the ensuing tie-break. He hit eight double faults within the match.

“He was serving 5-3, 40/0. I used to be like, ‘Nicely I am fairly sweaty, I am sweating by way of my sneakers. I am about to go and alter and attempt to win this factor in 4’,” Tiafoe mentioned. “I received some extent, received one other level. I used to be like, ‘Ooh’. He gave me one. I used to be like, ‘Do not let me get two’. After which I used to be like, ‘Do not let me get three’. After which I used to be like, ‘I’d as properly break now’. I received fairly fortunate there, actually.”

The Australian, who claimed his maiden Masters 1000 title in Montreal, battled again within the third set to maintain the match alive. However Tiafoe performed clear tennis all through — making simply 17 unforced errors — to shrink his opponent’s margin for error.

Tiafoe loves the highlight and he as soon as once more used the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd to assist push previous a difficult opponent, whom he had by no means beforehand confronted in a match. Early within the second-set tie-break, the 2022 semi-finalist hit a forehand passing shot and instantly pointed to the followers like a showman.

Popyrin, who was competing within the fourth spherical of a significant for the primary time, double-faulted to lose serve within the fourth set. He had an amazing take a look at a forehand passing shot contained in the court docket to get again on serve when Tiafoe served for the match, however missed into the online.

Tiafoe’s subsequent opponent, Dimitov, eradicated sixth seed Andrey Rublev earlier within the day. The Bulgarian leads Tiafoe 3-1 of their Lexus ATP Head2Head collection, however they’ve performed simply as soon as since 2019.

“Clearly he is so proficient. He is been one of the proficient gamers for a really, very very long time,” Tiafoe mentioned. “He is enjoying nice within the later levels of his profession and he is beginning to discover nice kind once more. So it may be actually, actually powerful. He can hit all of the photographs. I will make him struggle for it and earn it and I am certain he’s, too. I hope you guys are with me there as properly.”