Frances Tiafoe captured the hearts of Americans once again with an awe-inspiring win over Ben Shelton at Flushing Meadows.
The US Open has been a happy hunting ground for Tiafoe over the years, establishing itself firmly at the top of the 26-year-old’s bucket list of tournaments to win.
On Friday, Tiafoe got the better of Shelton in a gripping third-round encounter that went the distance.
It was a blockbuster rematch of last year’s quarter-final that lived up to – and surpassed – the pre-match hype surrounding it.
In claiming victory, the likable American avenged the crushing defeat he suffered to Shelton 12 months ago.
Things started to unfold in similar fashion when Tiafoe found himself trailing 2-1 in sets but he managed to muster up some of his most sublime tennis to complete an epic comeback.
Frances Tiafoe reveals key to success against Ben Shelton at US Open
Frances Tiafoe has suffered some crushing defeats on native soil over the years, but he has always seemed to bounce back.
In 2022, he and Carlos Alcaraz ignited an incredible rivalry after their thrilling semi-final clash went the distance before the Spaniard muscled his way over the line.
The loss reduced Tiafoe to tears, later vowing to the crowd that he would come back and ‘win this thing one day’.
It was thus even more gut-wrenching to come back in 2023 and be beaten by Ben Shelton at the quarter-final stage, a loss that left a negative trace on the following few months of his career.
However, this time at the US Open, things were different.
“It’s something that I’ve been doing much better, just not laying down,” Tiafoe said in a press conference. “It’s something I’ve prided myself on.
“I’ve been working on myself so much, having a mental guide, looking at the glass differently. I just want to win or lose a match knowing that the guy beat me and I didn’t beat myself, I’m not trying to help my opponent get over the line.
“Last year I fell away quickly, he broke me twice, it was pretty unacceptable the way I lost in the end.
“[This time] I was down 2-1, I had nothing else to do, nowhere else to be. It was a tight set, not much in the match at that point, I said ‘You’re fit, it’s not very hot, just keep going’.
“I wasn’t that stressed out or concerned about it.”
Tiafoe has come a long way in the past year
It’s refreshing to hear Tiafoe acknowledge just how far he has come during a difficult 12 months and the stars may just be aligning in 2024.
Just a few hours after his clash with Shelton, Novak Djokovic was stunned by Alexei Popyrin to blow the bottom half of the draw wide open.
Tiafoe will now face the Australian for a spot in the quarter-final in what might just be his best opportunity at clinching silverware in New York.
There is still work to do, but Tiafoe’s progress on and off the court offers much promise of what is to follow in the coming week.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
