Delray Beach, Florida
The Next Gen ATP players have taken over the Delray Beach Open. The latest to do so was 20-year old American Frances TiaFoe who upset No 2 seed Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-5 in a two hour 27 minute clinic in the final match of the night on Stadium Court here in Florida.
Tiafoe joins 18-year old Denis Shapovalov, 20-year old Reilly Opelka and 20-year old Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals. The only remaining seed left in the tournament is 21-year old Hyeon Chung, seeded eighth. It’s the least number of seeds left in the tournament since 1998.
Things didn’t start well for Tiafoe who trailed 4-1 in the 1st set and was down 0-40 in the next game. Suddenly, he flicked a switch battled back rallying to hold serve. Then in the following game an easy put away went long for the World No. 9 and Tiafoe broke right back.
In the first set tiebreak, Del Potro had a set point but he shanked a routine forehand. He followed that up with a backhand which went long and then a forehand into the net giving the set to Tiafoe.
In the second, a long first game was won by Del Potro giving him a break, the only one of the set. A big forehand winner down the line evened the match after an hour and 37 minutes.
The players held serve four times each in the final set before rain suddenly came down. The match was briefly haulted but the the delay didn’t last long.
When they resumed Del Potro mustered up a break point chance in the ninth game but Tiafoe fired three straight aces, the final one at 127 mph giving him a 5-4 lead. Three games later Tiafoe hit a great passing shot and the Argentinian star had dug himself a hole. It was one he couldn’t get out of. Tiafoe finally converted his fourth match point and let out a huge roar after securing the victory.
It’s unbelievable definitely. Two weeks in a row in the quarters,” said Tiafoe. “I really wanted that win to make a statement. I’ve had a ton of tough losses against top guys. This is just my second or third win [over a Top 10 opponent]. I feel like this is going to be a good year for me.”
Tiafoe will now face Chung in the final match of the night on Friday. The two players have never faced each other before.
Del Porto, who defeated Tiafoe in straight sets in the 1st Round of the Australian Open this year, will now head to Acapulco for a tournament next week.
@Sportshorn
