By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday July 1, 2024
Coming back from two sets to love down is a Grand Slam rite of passage.
It took Frances Tiafoe a while to get there, but the American has finally achieved the feat. On Monday he rallied from two sets to love down to defeat Italy’s Matteo Arnaldo, 6-7(5), 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 in three hours and nine minutes, the No.29 seed notching his sixth career five-set win and improving to 11-6 lifetime at Wimbledon.
Tiafoe had lost on his first 19 attempts after dropping the first two sets of best-of-five set matches.
It’s a special victory for Tiafoe in more ways than one. After he slipped and injured his knee at Queen’s Club two weeks ago (he retired against Rinky Hijikata in the round of 16), it wasn’t clear if he’d be able to compete at Wimbledon this year. He had a Grade 1 MCL sprain, and wore a knee brace to protect his right knee.
Tiafoe will face Borna Coric in the second round.