At least one American man will reach this year’s US Open’s men’s singles semifinals.
That’s because Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen will square off in an all-American showdown in the quarterfinals in New York.
Both men enjoyed straight sets victories in their fourth round matches to book the pivotal meeting.
The No. 11 seed Tiafoe once again enjoyed the raucous and supportive crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium as he took on No. 7 seed and former champion Daniil Medvedev.
Tiafoe claimed the 7-6 (1), 6-4, 7-6 (6) win to the delight of the Armstrong crowd, who frequently chanted “One, two, three, Foe!” during the match. Tiafoe is now 10-0 in matches on Armstrong in his career.
“What a match,” Tiafoe said afterward. “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.”
Medvedev went into the contest holding a commanding 6-1 head to head record over Tiafoe, including a win earlier this year in Brisbane.
Yet the 28-year-old Tiafoe, who is enjoying a resurgence this season, including recently reaching the Cincinnati Masters 1000 final, used his momentum and the crowd to his advantage.
Tiafoe, who has played all four of his US Open matches this year on Armstrong, turned the tables of Medvedev. The former US Open semifinalist Tiafoe negated Medvedev’s big serve, stayed with him in extended rallies, and also used his net skills to great effect, including this spectacular save in the third set tiebreaker.
“It has been amazing playing on this court, the energy man,” Tiafoe said about playing on Armstrong. “It is like the people’s court. I am loving the energy for sure.”
Tiafoe now awaits the 23-year-old unseeded Californian Michelsen, who reached his first ever major quarterfinal.
Michelsen upset No. 27 seed Tomas Etcheverry 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-4 to earn his spot in the final eight.
Michelsen, who looked in danger of losing his first set of the event when he fell behind two set points at 4-6 in the tiebreaker, managed to turn things around by winning the last four points of the set.
“I’m doing everything pretty good, really happy,” Michelsen said after the match. “Really happy, but not really surprised after putting in all the hard work. “Once I got away with the first set, I thought I had a good chance,” he added.
Tiafoe and Michelsen join fellow American Learner Tien in the quarterfinals.
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