WHAT HAPPENED: Frances Tiafoe usually finds his best tennis this time of year, especially on the hard courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and Monday was no exception. The 17th-seeded American advanced to the second round of the US Open for the eighth year in a row, a 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-3 winner over Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Tiafoe, a two-time semifinalist here, had lost his last two meetings with Nishioka, including a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 decision earlier this year in the Round of 16 in Dallas.
“It’s always great to play on this court. It’s unbelievable to be back at the amazing US Open,” said Tiafoe, who won 83% (45 of 54) of his first-serve points in the two-hour, 27-minute match. “It’s always an honor to play [in Ashe.]”
The former world No. 24 Nishioka has now dropped 10 of his last 11 tour-level matches, the lone win coming against American Jenson Brooksby in the opening round in Washington.
Fired up by a disputed time violation warning in the opener, Tiafoe responded with a massive around-the-net-post forehand winner to hold for 3-2. He would again hold for 4-3 on the back of three consecutive aces, then break his 149th-ranked opponent to pull away. Seven of Tiafoe’s 19 aces came in the first set alone.
The 27-year-old Marylander would save a set point down 5-6 in the second-set tiebreak, letting out a roar when he turned the tables three points later.
Coming into the match, Tiafoe called the US Open the “best event in the world”, but cautioned that he didn’t want to “make the moment too big.” He maintained his perspective in the third set against Nishioka, who was aiming to become only the second Japanese man in Open Era to earn 20 Grand Slam match wins (19-37), after Nishikori.
WHAT IT MEANS: Tiafoe sets a first-time matchup with qualifier Martin Damm, a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 winner over another American, wild card Darwin Blanch, on Court 11. The son of 2006 US Open men’s doubles champ Martin Damm, Sr. (won with Leander Paes), the Floridian is more than familiar with Tiafoe.
“It’ll be an unreal experience. It’s something that I’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” said the 21-year-old Damm, who’s back on the court after a long injury layoff (ankle). “He’s an exciting player. They love him here in New York. He’s had tremendous success, and he’s someone I’ve looked up to since I was 12 years old. I talked to him in the locker room the other day. He’s someone I know pretty well. It’ll be an amazing challenge for me.”
Currently No. 17 in the ATP Rankings, Tiafoe appears to be mostly past the lower back injury that cut his stay short at the Cincinnati Open, where he retired against Holger Rune trailing, 6-4, 3-1, in the Round of 16.
“I’m feeling healthy, I’m feeling good,” said Tiafoe. “I’m feeling better day by day. Close to 100%. I’m going to be good, exactly where I want to be. I’ve had so many good memories in this place. It’s like second nature.”
MATCH POINT: Tiafoe’s upset of third-ranked Rafael Nadal in the Round of 16 in 2022 was the biggest by an American man at the US Open since James Blake defeated ten-No. 2-ranked Nadal in the third round in 2005.
