Tiafoe basks within the love in second spherical win at U.S. Open

NEW YORK — There was not a lot drama concerned in Frances Tiafoe’s second-round victory on the U.S. Open on Wednesday evening. He shortly grabbed a lead and by no means let go. He solely confronted one break level — and saved it. He volleyed terrifically. His outmatched opponent wanted some assist from a coach for a bothersome neck.

And you couldn’t escape the sensation that the Tenth-seeded Tiafoe was having the time of his life. This is the place he needs to be, regardless of the small print of the match. Under the lights at a Grand Slam event, absorbing the eye of hundreds of oldsters within the Arthur Ashe Stadium stands and reciprocating the love whereas getting previous Sebastian Ofner of Austria 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 in a tad greater than 1 1/2 hours.

“I love it. I love it. I love all of it. I love the 1-on-1 battle. You’re putting your heart on the line. Everyone’s there to watch you and one other guy. You’re competing like crazy. Everyone’s anticipating the match. And it’s like, ‘Who wants it more?’” Tiafoe, a 25-year-old from Hyattsville, Maryland, mentioned throughout an interview earlier than the U.S. Open. “If you don’t love that, it’s the wrong sport for you. I just absolutely love being in those positions and those atmospheres.”

He knew this was Ofner’s U.S. Open debut and mentioned after Wednesday’s encounter that he wished to make use of “the environment to my advantage.”

A 12 months in the past at Flushing Meadows, Tiafoe’s profession modified and his life did, too. He beat Rafael Nadal within the fourth spherical alongside the best way to reaching the semifinals of a serious for the primary time, then pushing eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz to the restrict earlier than bowing out.

All the best way, the followers — together with some well-known ones, equivalent to former first girl Michelle Obama and NBA All-Star Bradley Beal — showered Tiafoe with affection. And he definitely loved basking in that adulation and the additional consideration that got here together with his larger profile, together with a job within the Netflix docuseries about tennis, “Break Point.”

“I’m totally cool with putting myself fully out there and seeing what happens. Let the chips fall where they may. I love feeling the crowd with me. Everyone paid their hard-earned money to come watch. So I want them to enjoy,” Tiafoe mentioned. “And also, I want to win.”

Next up for Tiafoe is No. 22 Adrian Mannarino of France, who produced one wild on-the-run ‘tweener throughout his win Wednesday.

“He’s very tricky. He’s got an unorthodox game style,” Tiafoe mentioned. “I’m ready. I’m ready for him.”

Tiafoe is a part of a crop of American males of their 20s who’ve been steadily transferring up the rankings and beginning to present indicators of threatening for main championships. Andy Roddick was the final man from the nation to earn a Grand Slam trophy, on the U.S. Open 20 years in the past.

Two different U.S. males becoming a member of Tiafoe within the third spherical with victories have been No. 14 Tommy Paul, an Australian Open semifinalist in January who collected his first profession comeback from two units right down to beat Roman Safiullin 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3, and Ben Shelton, who superior when 2020 champion Dominic Thiem stopped taking part in within the second set after being visited by a physiotherapist. No. 28 Chris Eubanks misplaced in 4 units to Benjamin Bonzi of France, whereas No. 9 Taylor Fritz was in motion later.

“We all grew up together. We know each other so well. American tennis is in a great place,” Tiafoe mentioned. “Hopefully we keep going and hopefully we end that streak.”

His win was adopted in Ashe by a gathering between two ladies who’ve gained main titles: two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and 2018 Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki, who not too long ago got here out of retirement.

In earlier motion Wednesday, defending champion Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff remained on target for a quarterfinal showdown with straight-set victories, whereas 23-time main champ Novak Djokovic additionally had little bother transferring into the third spherical.

But No. 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas, a two-time Slam finalist by no means previous the third spherical in New York, was eradicated by 128th-ranked Swiss qualifier Dominic Stricker 7-5, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (5) 7-6 (6), 6-3.