Frances Tiafoe: American is back in the US Open quarterfinals – and made sure to shout out actor Tony Goldwyn

CNN
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American Frances Tiafoe, who reached the US Open semifinals two years in the past, is making one other deep run in New York – and wanted to shout out a sure member of the gang earlier than leaving the court docket at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Tiafoe, who had the followers loudly behind him Sunday evening, went on to defeat his buddy, No. 28 Alexei Popyrin of Australia – 6-4, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3 – in simply over three hours to advance to the quarterfinals for the third consecutive yr.

“I all the time dreamt about enjoying on this court docket,” Tiafoe mentioned after the win. “From a child, you already know, I used to hit towards the wall and wish to compete on this court docket.

“Seeing the Williams sisters win titles right here, seeing Roger (Federer) win right here 1,000,000 instances, I used to be like, ‘I simply wish to play on this court docket.’

“It’s so iconic, clearly, named after Arthur Ashe, so I wished to be part of that. And it simply brings out one of the best in me. And also you guys are unbelievable followers, and it makes it so enjoyable out right here, actually.”

However when Chris Eubanks – an American tennis participant who’s mates with Tiafoe and is at the moment working for ESPN after dropping within the first spherical on August 26 – tried to wrap up the on-court interview, Tiafoe took the microphone, saying, “Maintain on.”

“Tony Goldwyn was within the crowd,” Tiafoe mentioned, referencing the actor. “Yo, I’m an enormous fan of you, bro. Me and my lady used to look at ‘Scandal’ on a regular basis. I’m an enormous fan brother, I’m an enormous fan, bro. I’ve obtained to say that.”

Now that Tiafoe has that field checked, he’ll be waiting for the quarterfinals.

Tiafoe will face No. 9 Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. Dimitrov, the oldest man left within the draw at 33, defeated No. 6 Andrey Rublev within the spherical of 16, getting previous the Russian 6-3, 7-6(3), 1-6, 3-6, 6-3 in three hours, 39 minutes.

Dimitrov, who reached the US Open semifinals in 2019, is 3-1 in his profession towards the 26-year-old Tiafoe.

It was the primary time Tiafoe and Popyrin – who had upset Novak Djokovic within the third spherical – had performed one another.

Popyrin gave respect to Tiafoe, the No. 20 seed, applauding his buddy’s forehand winner on match level. They then embraced on the internet.

“Clearly beating Novak is a big win at any level, any time, regardless of the place, when,” Tiafoe mentioned to reporters of Popryin. “I sort of really feel like Alexei had the extent. He confirmed it tonight. It was a very, actually excessive degree. So I needed to give you nice stuff.”

Popyrin advised reporters he thought Tiafoe “was the higher participant regardless of how shut it was” and that the American “stepped up on the larger factors.”

“He’s enjoying some scary tennis,” the 25-year-old Popyrin mentioned. “If he continues it, he has a very good likelihood.”

No American man has gained a grand slam singles title since Andy Roddick gained the US Open in 2003.

On the 2022 US Open, Tiafoe gave followers hope he would possibly finish the US males’s grand slam singles title drought, stunning Rafael Nadal within the spherical of 16 and upsetting Rublev within the quarterfinals. His run ended within the semifinals, falling to the eventual champion, Carlos Alcaraz.

Tiafoe is certainly one of two American males to date which have reached this yr’s US Open quarterfinals. Becoming a member of him is No. 12 Taylor Fritz, who got here again from a set right down to defeat No. 8 Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 earlier Sunday.

“I believe, prior to now, I’ve been very, very excited, very joyful to make quarterfinals at slams,” mentioned Fritz, 26, who superior to his fifth grand slam quarterfinal of his profession, together with now on the US Open in back-to-back years.

“I believe I’m on the level now the place I’m nonetheless joyful to make quarterfinals, however I wouldn’t be proud of it ending right here. I positively am on the level the place I really need greater than that.”

Up subsequent for Fritz will probably be No. 4 Alex Zverev of Germany, who was runner-up at this yr’s French Open and runner-up on the 2020 US Open. On Sunday, Zverev beat unseeded American Brandon Nakashima 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.

At Wimbledon within the fourth spherical towards Zverev, Fritz got here again from two units right down to win in 5. All time, Zverev is 5-4 towards the American.

“We’re in a quarterfinal of a grand slam stage. I believe there’s no straightforward matches from now transferring ahead,” Zverev mentioned.

One American stays on the alternative half of the draw: No. 14 Tommy Paul will face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner on Monday within the fourth spherical.