WHAT HAPPENED: Call it whatever you'd like – Maestro versus apprentice; legend versus up-and-comer; sage veteran versus eager youngster. No matter what you label Roger Federer and Frances Tiafoe's first-round affair at the US Open on Tuesday, it was electric.
The 19-year-old American Tiafoe enjoyed an almost-perfect night match at his home Grand Slam, in the world's biggest tennis arena, Arthur Ashe Stadium. He gave his all and matched against one of his childhood idols, Federer, shot for shot. It was a shame that it had to end with defeat after 2 hours and 37 thrilling minutes, as Federer survived in his quest for an unprecedented 20th major title, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.
Tiafoe jumped out to a 2-0 lead against the five-time US Open champion and stayed ahead to take the first set. The Maryland native served out the set to love.
Tiafoe was bullying Federer, pushing the Swiss from side to side with his forehand. It was reminiscent of their lone meeting from earlier this year at the Miami Masters, when Tiafoe challenged the decorated vet with power in a tight 7-6, 6-3 Federer win.
After handing Federer his first first-round set lost since 2003, could Tiafoe pull off the upset of the year? Tuesday night's match shined a spotlight upon a shaky Federer, who shanked two backhands in his first service game.
But the Swiss star has been coronated King of Queens five times for a reason: He knows how to escape first-round tangles. Federer eventually settled his game, taking the second and third sets. Tiafoe raged back with a 24-minute 6-1 fourth set to level the match, but couldn't consistently outmuscle Federer. The Swiss broke Tiafoe to close out the evening just a few strokes before midnight. Apropos.
The 36-year-old improved to 17-0 in first-round action in New York and has still not lost a first-round match at a Grand Slam since 2003 Roland Garros, when he fell to Peru's Luis Horna. It was Federer's first match in New York since 2015, after he missed last year's US Open because of his knee injury. Suffice to say, the packed stadium welcomed him back with roars all evening.
"I felt like the energy was in the building. They were very excited about seeing me back on the court, especially after the year that I've had. They seemed like really a good crowd, crowd support for both players. It was a lot of fun playing in that atmosphere," Federer said.
WHAT IT MEANS: Perhaps most importantly, Federer appeared healthy. Federer struggled through his last match before the US Open, losing to German Alexander Zverev in the Coupe Rogers final in Montreal. He talked about back pain and pulled out of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. His fans shrieked, but Federer did his best to reassure. He'd take two weeks off and would be ready to go in Flushing Meadows. He was right, at least on Tuesday.
Federer looked spry sprinting backwards and forwards, stopping and starting from every spot on the court. He lunged ahead for swinging volleys and slide sideways for Tiafoe forehands. Not once did we see the champion pull up.
"I'm very happy that I'm feeling as good as I'm feeling right now. Honestly, if I would have felt like that going into this tournament that my back was going to get worse every match, I probably wouldn't have played," Federer said. "My hope and my belief is that it's only going to get better from here because every day that goes by puts me further away from what happened in Montreal. So that's how I see it."
That's not to say it was a perfect opener for the No. 3 seed, who could meet rival Rafael Nadal in the semifinals. Federer went five-for-11 on break points, while the Next Gen star Tiafoe converted four of his five opportunities.
In even bigger moments, Federer couldn't quite put Tiafoe away. Federer failed to finish it in four after rolling through the second and third sets, and he couldn't serve out the match at 5-3 in the fifth. But he advanced.
MATCH POINT: Federer has never lost before the third round at the US Open. He'll try to continue that streak when he meets Slovenia's Blaz Kavcic or Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the second round.
