Tiafoe turns a losing record into a fifth straight top 10 win
The prosecutor said one thing and this season another. Tiafoe has now beaten consecutive top 10 opponents, and the win over Medvedev was the 17th of his career against that group. It was also his ninth win in his last ten matches and it took him to his fourth US Open quarter-final.
The score records how little divided them. Tiafoe took the tie-break in the first set 7-1 and the third 8-6, and the only set decided on serve also went to him. Medvedev, a former champion here, has been the better of the two in six of their previous seven meetings.
Michelsen joins Del Potro and Etcheverry on the very short list
The 22-year-old Michelsen, seeded 46th and unseeded, reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time and did so without dropping a set; overcame Italian Federico China 6-4, 6-1, 6-0, Spanish Daniel Merida 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-4, American Brasiedma. 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and now it’s on to Etcheverry.
That combination has been managed twice before this century by an inexhaustible player. Juan Martin del Potro did it at the US Open in 2016, ranked 142nd, and Etcheverry did it at Roland Garros in 2023, ranked 49th. He reached the last 16, beating compatriot Mariano Navone 6-4, 6-4, 6-3, British lucky loser Jacob Fearnley 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and Czech Vit Kopriva 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.
Michelsen is also the first man born in 2004 to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, showing across his entire age group, not just himself.
Two Americans, one semi-final spot
The two came from opposite sides. Tiafoe has been here before, four times alone in this tournament, and spent Sunday night settling the score with a rival who owned the match. Michelsen has never been here and spent a fortnight without giving anyone a set to work with. Whichever of them makes it through, the United States will have a man in the US Open semifinals.
US Open Men’s Singles Fourth Round Schedule
A. Zverev (1) vs L. Darderi (21) – scheduled for Monday
A. Gea (L) vs B. Van de Zandschulp – scheduled for Monday
K. Khachanov vs L. Tien (14) – scheduled for Monday
F. Cerundolo (24) vs A. Blockx (28) – scheduled for Monday
F. Tiafoe (11) d. D. Medvedev (7): 7-6 (1), 6-4, 7-6 (6)
A. Michelsen – T. Etcheverry (27): 7-6 (6), 6-4, 6-4.
B. Shelton (8) v. S. Tsitsipas – Sunday, Arthur Ashe Stadium, 19:00
C. Alcaraz (2) d. T. Paul (20): 6-4, 6-3, 6-4