Frances Tiafoe pulled off one of the most notable wins of this year’s US Open, knocking out 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round 7-6(1), 6-4, 7-6(6) to reach the quarterfinals. It was only the second time in eight career meetings that Tiafoe has beaten Medvedev, who had led their series 6-1 coming in, and it made him the first American man ever to beat the Russian at Flushing Meadows, improving the combined US record against him to 1-4.

None of the sets were easy to come by as it took almost three hours for a straight-sets match. Tiafoe won the opening tiebreak while dropping just a single point, then needed only one break to close out the second set. Medvedev broke first in the third before Tiafoe broke straight back to force another tiebreak, one that swung back and forth until it was tied at 6-6. 

Tiafoe earned match point with a brilliant return and backhand, and after a tense final exchange, Medvedev sent a driving forehand volley into the net to end it. There was no usual Medvedev chaos after the defeat, but the Russian did not even stay for the next 30 seconds on the court. 

The win extends Tiafoe’s record at Louis Armstrong Stadium to 10-0. He moves on to face fellow American Alex Michelsen in the last eight, an opponent whom he has defeated twice in both career meetings, putting him in a strong position to make it to his third semifinal at the US Open.

This is a developing story…