Tiafoe advances to his first ever French Open QF

Fifteenth-seeded Frances Tiafoe advanced to his first-ever French Open quarterfinal with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) win over Germany’s Daniel Altmaier on Sunday night. The victory puts him alongside 12th seed Tommy Paul, marking the first time in years that two American men have reached the last eight at Roland Garros.

The 27-year-old Maryland native, whose parents emigrated from Sierra Leone, had struggled in Paris early in his career. He began with an 0-6 record at the tournament before earning his first win in 2022 and adding another victory last year.

“On clay, I get a little more passive than on other surfaces, because the court doesn’t help me play as fast as I would like,” said Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semifinalist. “Patience is a thing I struggle with.”

That mindset now appears to have shifted.

“Overall, I’m a big believer it can all change in a week,” he said. “When I’m backed up against it, it seems like I start to produce my best tennis, because I have to if I want to continue living the life I want to live.”

Confident in his form, Tiafoe added: “If I’m ready to go, I’m not just going to get to the third round — I can go for a run. I genuinely feel I can beat anybody on any specific day.”

Next up for Tiafoe is a quarterfinal clash against eighth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti, who defeated 10th seed Holger Rune 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a match that stretched past midnight.