Frances Tiafoe rallied to beat Ben Shelton in an electrifying five-setter on Friday on the US Open, avenging a quarter-final loss to his fellow American at Flushing Meadows final yr.
Tiafoe, with an excellent return recreation and aggressive play on the web, beat Shelton 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-3 to line up a fourth-round conflict with both defending champion Novak Djokovic or Australian Alexei Popyrin.
“Shedding final yr to him, (I) struggled for a very long time,” Tiafoe stated. “Performed actually, actually dangerous for a really, very very long time.
“Loads of issues have occurred since then. I struggled with a number of issues, motivation-wise, issues like that, taking the sport with no consideration.
“So it was superb to have that matchup.”
And, he added: “What an unbelievable match, unbelievable environment. You realize, for a day match, it was epic.”
Shelton pounded 23 aces, however Tiafoe mustered 21 break factors and transformed 5. That included one break in every of the final two units — sufficient to ship him by way of.
“I assumed since I have been on tour, as we speak was in all probability the perfect that anybody has returned my serve that I’ve seen,” stated Thirteenth-seeded Shelton.
“There was one the place I went large out extensive, like 130 (mph), and he cracked it down the road clear, hit the baseline, and I used to be, like, ‘Oh, a type of days.'”
Tiafoe stated his return recreation had improved since he began working with coach David Witt.
“That paid a number of dividends,” he stated. “I wanted I served higher all through the match however I served rather well on the finish, and that is sort of what counts. That is in all probability the one factor I may critique.
“Ben’s an unbelievable participant, man, and he comes up with the products so much. It was undoubtedly a tricky match.”
When Tiafoe closed it out after an intense 4 hours and three minutes, he unfold his arms to the roaring Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd earlier than assembly his good buddy Shelton for a prolonged hug.
Shelton had gained the benefit with a dramatic third-set tiebreak victory, taking a 6-0 lead just for Tiafoe to win 5 straight factors earlier than Shelton closed out the set with a 143 mph ace.
“I actually hope you guys loved the present,” stated Tiafoe, who beat Rafael Nadal on the best way to the semi-finals two years in the past in what continues to be his greatest Grand Slam efficiency.
After a slowish begin to the season, he has gained 12 of his previous 16 matches and has gained 5 of his previous six towards top-20 gamers.
The one exception was his loss to world primary Jannik Sinner within the last at Cincinnati this month.
– ‘Do not lay down’ –
Tiafoe stated that when he fell two units to 1 down towards Shelton final yr “I fell away rapidly, damaged twice, fairly unacceptable the best way I misplaced ultimately.”
He was decided to not let that occur once more.
“It has been one thing I’ve been doing significantly better,” he stated. “I simply do not lay down. I wish to win or lose matches figuring out the man beat me, I did not beat myself.”
Regardless of his disappointment, Shelton had no hesitation in enthusiastically congratulating Tiafoe on the web.
“It did not really feel proper to simply go up with a unfavorable look on my face, shake his hand and stroll off the court docket, as a result of he performed some nice ball as we speak,” Shelton stated.
“I informed him, you realize, hold serving like that, hold returning like that, and see the place this factor goes.”
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