Frances Tiafoe rallied from one set down in his 5-7 6-1 6-4 win over Gael Monfils after 2 hours and 11 minutes to reach the quarter finals at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.
Tiafoe set up a match against Jannik Sinner in the quarter finals. The US player beat his Italian opponent 3-6 7-5 6-2 in their first head-to-head match in the Vienna semifinal in 2021.
Tiafoe saved three break points from 0-40 down to hold serve at deuce in the first game. Monfils fended off two break points from 15-40 down in the second game. Tiafoe earned a set point on return at 5-4, but Monfils saved it with his return. Monfils converted his second break point in the 11th game and closed out the first set 7-5 on his second opportunity.
Tiafoe won the first eight points of the second set and opened up a 2-0 lead with a break in the second game. The US player went up a double break to love in the fourth game and served out the second set at love in the seventh game. Monfils received a medical time-out due to a calf issue.
Tiafoe broke serve in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead in the third set and saved a break point in the sixth game after two deuces for 4-2. Monfils went up 30-15, as Tiafoe was serving for the match at 5-4. Tiafoe won three consecutive points to seal the third set 6-4 in the 10th game.
Tiafoe is currently 16th in the ATP Live Race to Turin and would move up to 12th position by winning the title in Vienna.
