Frances Tiafoe had spent years trying to solve Daniil Medvedev. He entered Sunday’s U.S. Open match having lost six of their first seven meetings—and then beat the former champion without dropping a set.
The 11th-seeded American defeated No. 7 seed Medvedev 7–6(1), 6–4, 7–6(6) at Louis Armstrong Stadium, advancing to the quarterfinals while keeping alive the possibility of the first American men’s Grand Slam champion since 2003.
Tiafoe finally cracked a difficult matchup
Medvedev’s unusual game had repeatedly frustrated Tiafoe before this meeting. The Russian’s deep return position, defensive reach and ability to redirect pace helped him build a 6–1 advantage in their first seven matches, according to the ATP’s head-to-head record.
Tiafoe’s only previous victory came at the team-based Laver Cup in 2024. At Flushing Meadows, however, he attacked the net, changed the geometry of rallies and delivered his best shots in the tightest moments.
“I played well when it counted,” Tiafoe said after the match, according to Reuters.
Two tiebreaks decided the straight-sets win
Tiafoe was one game from losing the opening set when he broke Medvedev at 5–6. He then took control of the tiebreak, moving forward aggressively and winning it 7–1.
One break was enough in the second set. Tiafoe struck a forehand down the line in the fifth game and protected the advantage, finishing the set with a backhand volley that Medvedev applauded.
The third set produced the match’s most delicate finish. Both players created chances, but Tiafoe’s serve-and-volley choices repeatedly shortened points. A Medvedev double fault opened the door in the tiebreak, and the American closed the match when a final baseline exchange forced an error.
The official U.S. Open draw records the victory as 7–6(1), 6–4, 7–6(6). The result was straight sets, but it was not routine: two sets required tiebreaks, and Tiafoe had to recover from pressure in both.
Louis Armstrong Stadium has become his “people’s court”
Tiafoe’s connection with the Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd has become one of the defining features of his New York runs. Sunday’s victory improved him to 10–0 in appearances on the court, Reuters reported.
Fans roared as Tiafoe mixed power with touch and repeatedly moved inside the baseline. In a follow-up interview, he described the atmosphere as an “out-of-body experience” and called Armstrong the “people’s court.”
That relationship dates back through several memorable U.S. Open runs, including his victory over Rafael Nadal on the way to the 2022 semifinals and another semifinal appearance in 2024.
This year’s performance also follows a difficult summer. Tiafoe retired from a match in Montreal and underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his dominant hand. He recovered quickly enough to reach the Cincinnati final before arriving in New York.
The 23-year American men’s drought is still in play
No American man has won a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick captured the 2003 U.S. Open. Tiafoe has come close in New York twice, and his latest run arrives amid one of the strongest collective U.S. performances in years.
Five American men reached the fourth round of the 2026 tournament, the most at the U.S. Open since 1995, according to the tournament’s official site.
Ben Shelton also reached the quarterfinals by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets, while Alex Michelsen advanced with a win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry. The draw guarantees that either Tiafoe or Michelsen will reach the semifinals.
Next comes an all-American quarterfinal
Tiafoe will face Michelsen next. The matchup gives Michelsen his first Grand Slam quarterfinal and offers Tiafoe another chance to reach the U.S. Open semifinals.
Tiafoe has won both of their previous meetings, but the larger lesson from Sunday is that old matchup records do not settle new matches. Against Medvedev, the six earlier losses became background rather than destiny.
Three tight sets later, Tiafoe had his biggest win of the tournament—and the American title drought had one fewer obstacle in its way.
