New York, NY— In a match that had the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd on the edge of their seats, Frances Tiafoe showcased his relentless determination and mental fortitude, overcoming a near-disastrous second-set deficit to defeat Alexei Popyrin in the fourth round of the US Open. The 6-4, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3 victory propels Tiafoe into the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows for the third consecutive year, setting up an enticing clash with Grigor Dimitrov.
Tiafoe, often referred to as one of the most exciting players on the ATP Tour, was pushed to his limits by the towering Australian, Alexei Popyrin. The 6’5” Popyrin, who had stunned Novak Djokovic in the third round, appeared poised to force a best-of-three match after taking a commanding 5-2, 40-0 lead in the second set. It was at this critical juncture that Tiafoe’s resilience came to the fore.
Facing three set points, Tiafoe dug deep, winning the next five points in a sequence that included a costly double fault from Popyrin. The dramatic turnaround electrified the New York crowd, who rallied behind the American as he clawed his way back into the set. By the time the set reached a tiebreak, Tiafoe had seized the momentum and wasted no time capitalizing on it.
In the tiebreak, Tiafoe’s shot-making was sublime. A curling crosscourt forehand pass gave him an early 3-0 lead, and from there, he never looked back. With Popyrin on the ropes, Tiafoe unleashed a barrage of forehands that pushed his opponent deep behind the baseline, eventually earning three set points of his own. The set was sealed with a booming ace, though the crowd’s applause was somewhat subdued compared to the heated atmosphere of a few points earlier.
The atmosphere is ELECTRIC! 🔊⚡️@FTiafoe | (via @usopen) pic.twitter.com/xakbZenO8M
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) September 2, 2024
Reflecting on the second set, Tiafoe later shared his thoughts with on-court interviewer Chris Eubanks, revealing the mindset that fueled his comeback. “I was like, I’m pretty sweaty, I’m sweating through my shoes, I’m gonna go win this in four,” Tiafoe said with a smile. He added that after saving the first set point, he told himself, “Don’t give me two.” When Popyrin faltered, Tiafoe was ready to pounce.
Despite the heartbreaking second set, Popyrin showed impressive composure, bouncing back to take the third set 6-2. But in the fourth, it was Tiafoe who once again found his groove. With the set level at 2-2, Popyrin handed Tiafoe a crucial break with another double fault, and the American didn’t look back. Hold at 30 gave Tiafoe a 5-2 lead, and although Popyrin managed to hold serve to force Tiafoe to serve it out, the outcome was inevitable.
“Brunson, he’s the man here. He’s damn near bigger than Jay-Z.”
— Ed McGrogan (@EdMcGrogan) August 29, 2024
“Oh, there’s a lot of guys who hook. Oh, God, brutal. Brutal. I’m not going to name names, but brutal.”
After a sultry match at the #USOpen, @FTiafoe embraced the A.C.—then cooked in press:https://t.co/BsCMK8nkA6
Tiafoe had his chances to close out the match with ease, but a missed volley and a netted ball on match points added some late drama. Popyrin even had a look at a forehand pass on break point, but he too found the net, and with that, his hopes were dashed. Two points later, Tiafoe sealed the win with a forehand winner, much to the delight of the raucous New York crowd.
With his victory, Frances Tiafoe now turns his attention to a quarterfinal showdown with Grigor Dimitrov, who earlier in the day survived a five-set battle of his own. The match is scheduled to be played at Arthur Ashe Stadium, a venue that Tiafoe relishes playing in.
“I always dreamt about playing on this court, from a kid…seeing the Williams sisters win titles here, seeing Roger [Federer] win here a million times,” Tiafoe reflected after the match. “It brings out the best of me.”
As Tiafoe continues his quest for a first Grand Slam title, his performance against Popyrin is a testament to his growing maturity and his ability to rise to the occasion when it matters most. The US Open has always been a stage where legends are made, and with the backing of the New York faithful, Tiafoe is proving he belongs among the elite.