Frances Tiafoe stuns Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to reach US Open quarterfinals

There may not be anyone more at home at Louis Armstrong Stadium than Frances Tiafoe. 

Case in point: Against an in-form Daniil Medvedev who, through the first three rounds at the U.S. Open, hadn’t dropped a set, Tiafoe toppled the former world No. 1 and 2021 U.S. Open winner in a nearly three-hour showdown. And as he stood in the middle of the court, it was clear whose house Armstrong has become, as Tiafoe dispatched Medvedev in straight sets 7-6, 6-4, 7-6. 

“You hear the noise; you hear the noise,” Tiafoe said while standing in the middle of the court. “What’s up, Louis!” 

The words led to the crowd erupting in cheers and applause as Tiafoe took in the moment with a smile on his face. 

At a perfect 10-0 at Louis Armstrong Stadium, one might imagine Tiafoe has discovered a tactical advantage inside the venue. But he is quick to tell you otherwise. 

“You ain’t got to get that deep with it. It just is what it is, man,” he said. “It’s just an energy thing. You know, courts, dimensions, everything is the same on every court. Energy is insane. I kept requesting it. … More and more I can enjoy myself and have fun, it seems like I can bring my best stuff out, and that’s kind of what that is. 

“When you felt so comfortable and won so much on a court, you just have that extra little belief like I feel like I can do anything on that court.” 

That was certainly the case Sunday night as the American advanced to the quarterfinals, using that energy to propel him in big moments. 

Medvedev broke Tiafoe in the opening game, and the pair traded 3 breaks apiece during a wild first set before Tiafoe pulled out the tiebreak. 

Tiafoe found himself needing to dig deep in the third set when Medvedev came charging out to a 2-0 lead before he responded in the next two games of the set. Tiafoe found himself having to battle back from down 5-6 to a tiebreak, where he saved a match point and then flipped the tables on Medvedev to pull off the win. 

“I think I should have played better in some moments of the match. I should have made better shots, better decisions,” Medvedev said. “He made probably a better decision or a better shot, because in general I had my chances. I should have won the first set. I could have won the third. … I don’t think [it was] the stadium. Sometimes, you have the statistics, and then three years later the statistic is gone. So I don’t think it has much to do with it.” 

With Tiafoe moving forward, his time playing at Louis Armstrong Stadium has more than likely come to an end. Though he joked when someone described it as the “House that Tiafoe built,” that he was “still working on the lights and the interior design on Louis.” 

“Obviously, it’s done, and I’m happy I get to leave on the 10-0 record on that court,” he said. “We’ll save it for next year. See you never, maybe. It’s just been fun.” 

Tiafoe’s advance continues the push for an American man to finally end a Grand Slam drought that has been a topic of conversation at every year’s U.S. Open. Andy Roddick remains the last American man to win the U.S. Open, back in 2003. 

Entering the round of 16, five American men remained in the draw — the most at this stage of a major since 1995.