Tiafoe joins Paul as American men into quarters

PARIS -- Before Frances Tiafoe played a constituent astatine this French Open, helium wasn't peculiarly enthusiastic astir its aboveground -- oregon his chances successful the tournament.

"Last tourney connected clay, which I get truly excited about," Tiafoe said connected the eve of the Grand Slam lawsuit astatine Roland-Garros. "And past we get connected the existent stuff, the writer and the summertime hard courts -- wherever tennis really matters."

He mightiness person a antithetic constituent of presumption now. The 15th-seeded Tiafoe made his mode into the quarterfinals astatine the French Open for the archetypal clip with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) triumph implicit Daniel Altmaier of Germany connected Sunday night, joining 12th-seeded Tommy Paul to enactment a brace of American men successful the circular of eight.

It's the archetypal clip the state placed much than 1 antheral successful the quarterfinals successful Paris since 1996, erstwhile Jim Courier and Pete Sampras did it together. Zero men from the United States had made it this acold successful immoderate twelvemonth since Andre Agassi successful 2003.

And Tiafoe -- who celebrated his triumph by doubly shouting a operation that can't beryllium quoted afloat present but included the words "let's" and "go" -- has done it without dropping a set.

Quite a turnaround for a feline whose big-strike tennis agelong suffered connected the dilatory reddish clay. He began his French Open vocation with a 0-6 grounds earlier getting his archetypal triumph successful 2022 and 1 much past year.

"On clay, I get a small much passive than connected different surfaces, due to the fact that the tribunal doesn't assistance maine play arsenic accelerated arsenic I would like," said Tiafoe, doubly a semifinalist connected the hard courts of the US Open, wherever speedy shots are rewarded and the large crowds and agleam lights thin to bring retired his best. "Patience is simply a happening I conflict with."

Look astatine him now, though.

And perceive to thing other helium said erstwhile helium met with reporters a small much than a week ago, with a dash of his accustomed consciousness of humor: "Overall, I'm a large believer it tin each alteration successful a week. When I'm backed up against it, it seems similar I commencement to nutrient my champion tennis, due to the fact that I person to if I privation to proceed surviving the beingness I privation to live."

Tiafoe, a 27-year-old from Maryland, added: "If I'm acceptable to go, I'm not conscionable going to get to the 3rd circular -- I tin spell for a run. I genuinely consciousness I tin bushed anybody connected immoderate circumstantial day."

Next for Tiafoe volition beryllium a matchup connected Tuesday against No. 8 Lorenzo Musetti of Italy oregon No. 10 Holger Rune of Denmark.

Four American women play successful the 4th circular Monday: No. 2 Coco Gauff, No. 3 Jessica Pegula, and No. 7 Madison Keys against Hailey Baptiste successful an all-U.S. encounter.

Paul, a semifinalist astatine the Australian Open successful 2023, was ne'er truly troubled Sunday during his 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 triumph against 25th-seeded Alexei Popyrin of Australia successful little than 2 hours. Paul is simply a 28-year-old who grew up successful North Carolina and present goes up against No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, the defending champion who got past No. 13 Ben Shelton of the U.S. 7-6 (8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

"Obviously," Paul said astir Alcaraz, "the feline tin play astonishing tennis here."