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Frances Tiafoe returns to US Open quarterfinals against Alexei Popyrin
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Frances Tiafoe returns to US Open quarterfinals against Alexei Popyrin

NEW YORK — Frances Tiafoe reached the quarterfinals of the US Open for the third year in a row, defeating Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3 on Sunday night.

The 20th-seeded player will be looking to equal his career-best Grand Slam result when he takes on ninth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov on Tuesday for a place in the semi-finals.

Tiafoe lost in that round in 2022 to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz and was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Ben Shelton last year.

Tiafoe is the first American to reach three consecutive US Open quarterfinals since Andy Roddick from 2006-08.

The match turned late in the second set, when Popyrin was serving at 5-3 and a point away from leveling the set at one set apiece. Tiafoe won the next five points to break and quickly took control of the tiebreaker by jumping to a 4-1 lead.

Popyrin, the 28th-seeded Australian, defeated reigning champion Novak Djokovic on Friday to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.