Tiafoe shines on the people's court to finally overcome old rival Medvedev

Frances Tiafoe finally solved Daniil Medvedev at the U.S. Open, defeating the former champion 7-6(1), 6-4, 7-6(6) to reach the quarter-finals. The American had trailed 1-6 in their career head-to-head record before Sunday, with his only previous victory coming at the Laver Cup.

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Daniil has been so good, he's beaten me so many times. This is the first time I've beaten him in a regular match.

Tiafoe repeatedly moved forward and used precise net play to control the match. He broke Medvedev from the baseline at 5-6 in the opening set to force a tiebreak, then took control early. In the second set, he broke in the fifth game with a forehand down the line.

The pair traded early breaks in the final set before settling into a tight battle. Tiafoe used serve-and-volley tennis to maintain pressure, then saved set point in a fast exchange at the net during the deciding tiebreak. Medvedev's double fault proved the only flaw in the tiebreak, which Tiafoe won to complete the upset.

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Everything is feeling really good. I'm coming forward, I'm having fun.

“Daniil has been so good, he's beaten me so many times. This is the first time I've beaten him in a regular match,” Tiafoe said. “Everything is feeling really good. I'm coming forward, I'm having fun.” He will next play compatriot Alex Michelsen.

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It's been amazing playing on this court, the energy has been amazing.

Tiafoe remains unbeaten in 10 appearances at Louis Armstrong Stadium, where he celebrated with the crowd after Medvedev made an error on match point. “It's been amazing playing on this court, the energy has been amazing,” he said. “It's like the people's court.”

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It's like the people's court.