Frances Tiafoe returns to US Open quarters, beating Alexei Ppyrin

Frances Tiafoe, after an unanticipated pep talk from Serena Williams, defeated Alexei Popyrin on Sunday night, becoming the first American player to reach the three-straight US Open quarterfinals since Andy Roddick almost 20 years ago.

Sep 1, 2024, 11:37 PM ET

NEW YORK — A just one point to losing the next set his opponent on the court, Frances Tiafoe was looking for the positive side of her.

He figured that at least that he’d be able to take off of his sweaty clothes and shoes.

After a couple of minutes the player didn’t change his clothes. He changed his clothes during his room during the game.

Tiafoe took control of the second set, and went through to get into the US Open quarterfinals for the third time in a row, defeating the Russian Alexei Popyrin 7-6, 6-4 (3) 2-6 6-3, 7-6 (3) on Sunday evening.

“The second set was a huge, huge win for me,” Tiafoe declared. “You know, 5-3, 40-love, him serving, how good he serves, that was really, really big. To break there and then to win that set was huge.”

The No. 20 seed will be aiming to replicate the most successful Grand Slam result of his career when he takes on the No. ninth player Grigor Dimitrov on Tuesday in a bid to secure the chance to make it into the semifinals.

Tiafoe was defeated by the eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz in the 2022 round and was eliminated at the quarterfinals stage through Ben Shelton.

Tiafoe has become the only American male to make it through the three-straight US Open quarterfinals since Andy Roddick from 2006 until 2008. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi are the only American males from 2000 to make it to the last eight of New York three straight times.

Then there was the fact that it was a disappointing beginning to the season prior to when Tiafoe got hot on the hard-court swing that led to Tiafoe’s first tournament of the season, US Open.

“Everything is happening when it’s meant to happen,” Tiafoe declared. “I’m glad it’s happening now because this is the most important time for me.”

Tiafoe was not in need of any additional motivation prior to Sunday’s game, however, he said that the surprise visit of a friend and a surprise encouragement from the 23-time major champion Serena Williams inspired him in a way that he’s never had before.

“Telling me she’s always following no matter what, telling me it’s so good to see now that I’m done, you’re the guy of color playing and doing well,” He told me.

“I’m, like, damn. That’s really, really cool that she sees me as that.”

Williams was back in the event on Saturday to play for the first time in a tournament since the final game at Arthur Ashe two years ago and was seen again on Sunday, soaking up the action.

“It was really cool to have her want to talk to me before a match and really say she wants me to do this thing and that I’m capable of doing it,” Tiafoe told reporters. “I don’t think it will hit me like that if anybody else said it to me.”

Williams may, however, be split on which team to support when Tiafoe and Dimitrov play in the next round, considering that she has Dimitrov as a Bulgarian as a long-time friend. Dimitrov added that they also shared a congratulatory pep talk on Saturday, and was at the stadium as he beat Andrey Rublev at the weekend.

For Tiafoe the player, he rearranged his game into the set when Popyrin held a 5-3 advantage and a chance to tie the match at a set. Tiafoe took 5 of the following points to break the tie and quickly seized control of the tiebreaker with the lead of 4-1.

Popyrin, the No. 28 seeds from Australia defeated the defending champion Novak Djokovic on Friday, advancing to the finals of the Grand Slam for the first time. He believed that he could have gotten further if not resigned from in the first set.

“Definitely a lost opportunity,” Popyrin admitted. “I’ve been saying all week that I think against these top players you have to take your chances when you have them. Obviously 5-3, 40-love up serving, it’s a really big choke from my end.”

No. 12-seed Taylor Fritz won earlier on Sunday, and another American, Tommy Paul who will take on No. #1 Jannik Sinner from Italy during the 4th round on on Monday. If Paul succeed the tournament, he’ll be joined by Tiafoe along with Fritz in giving players from the U.S. three men in the quarterfinals of Flushing Meadows for a second year in succession.

The last time numerous athletes from the hosting nation playing in the US Open men’s quarterfinals twice in succession was the year 2001 as well as 2002.

Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.