On social media, he exhorted D.C. to show up for the kid at his Friday night D.C. Open quarterfinal.
Show up they did for Frances Tiafoe, as the loudest FitzGerald Tennis Center crowd in years rollicked and rocked behind their hometown star as he played one of the best matches of his season deep into the Washington night.
The Hyattsville native was a 6-4, 7-6 (3) winner over top seed Andrey Rublev early Saturday morning, reaching the semifinal of his home tournament for the first time in the decade he’s been playing in it. His third-straight Friday night quarterfinal match in as many years was the charm after falling to eventual champions Nick Kyrgios and Dan Evans the past two years, and the win is Tiafoe’s first over a top-ten player in 2024.
“Had some tough ones the last couple years,” Tiafoe said. “Kyrgios, so many match points. Dan played incredible against me last year. It wasn’t any easier today playing Andrey. I knew what I had to come with. He’s 9 in the world, been top 10 for so long. I knew the level I had to bring. Glad I brought it. It was an incredible atmosphere tonight.”
Serves clicked with precision for the fifth-seeded Tiafoe, including a run of five-out-of-six aces in the final service game of the second set and his first points on serve in the tiebreak.
“I just felt in a really good rhythm. Just felt in a really good rhythm,” Tiafoe, whose 39 aces lead the tournament, said. “I thought I was doing pretty well in hitting my spots. He had a tough time reading it.”
The biggest and loudest crowd of the tournament week packed stadium court, overwhelmingly pro-Tiafoe, chanting his name between games and pumping him up on every point.
“I think it’s the best crowd by far. I thought it was pretty much full. People going absolutely nuts, and I did a great job of getting them in there early, getting them riled up. They were so with me. It was super one-sided,” Tiafoe said.
“I think everybody was really excited for me this year, really want me to get going, not only here, but the next tournament. I can really feel the love that they have for me here right now. We’re going to use that for tomorrow, for sure.”
Rublev had his serves too, with 8 aces to Tiafoe’s 9. But where Tiafoe took advantage was in sustaining long rallies with the Russian, dictating play on his terms and knowing when to utilize drop shots and softer pace. Of the 40 points contested on Rublev’s second serve, Tiafoe won more than half - 22 of 40.
“Thought I moved really well tonight. Super balanced on both sides,” Tiafoe said. “Moving well out of the corners, hitting great shots. Andrey is going to put you there. Best players in the world make you hit the best shots out of the corners and see what you come up with. I did a great job of that.”
The Marylander is now one of three Americans left in the ATP singles draw, including No. 2 seed Ben Shelton and his next opponent, No. 4 Sebastian Korda. Along with No. 10 Flavio Cobolli, all four semifinalists are vying to be a first time Washington champion. Tiafoe is back on Stadium tomorrow night in the second men’s semifinal following Shelton and Cobolli’s match, which is not before 7 p.m.
• George Gerbo can be reached at ggerbo@washingtontimes.com.
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