Highlights of the story
Roger Federer survives the first round unscathed against 70th-placed Frances Tiafoe
US teenager leads Roger Federer the full distance before losing in the fifth set
The newly crowned Wimbledon winner Federer has downplayed his chances of winning his 20th major tournament
The 19-year-old upset the natural order by winning the first set of their first-round clash before taking the fourth set with a double. But in the end, Federer’s skills and experience prevailed over the course of the encounter, which lasted two hours and 37 minutes.
The teenager Tiafoe, who played confidently despite the five-set defeat against the world number 3, has only made it past the first round of a tournament twice.
He showed signs of catching up by winning the fourth set, taking serve from Federer and taking a 3-1 lead, but it was too little, too late for the American.
The Maryland-born American’s first set win was an improvement on the pair’s only other on-court meeting, when he forced Federer into a first set tiebreak at the Miami Open in March.
Federer’s victory fuels anticipation of a meeting with his old rival Rafael Nadal on the hard courts of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The two are on the verge of a semi-final duel after the Spaniard eliminated Dusan Lajovic 7:6 (8:6), 6:2, 6:2 in his opening game.
While Federer avoided an ignominious early exit, there was a big surprise on the second day: defending champion Angelique Kerber was dispatched by Japan’s Naomi Osaka in straight sets 6:3, 6:1. It is only the third time that a defending champion has been at the US Open eliminated in the first round.
The late evening crowd grew louder as the game wore on, cheering the young American on as he took points from Federer. In the fifth set he broke Federer’s serve to thunderous applause and denied him the match win.
But it wasn’t meant to be, even if this hard-fought match promises a career that has it all.
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Teenager-Sensation
Regarded as a quiet, thoughtful teenager, Tiafoe credits much of his development to his father, Constant Tiafoe, an immigrant from Sierra Leone.
The elder Tiafoe helped establish the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, where Frances trained since childhood, and later became its director.
While working around the clock, his father was forced to move into an empty storage room at the tennis center, where his two boys stayed with him and slept on a massage table while their mother worked night shifts as a nurse.
“Of course I wasn’t the wealthy kid or didn’t have all the new things or whatever. But I was just living life. I was able to play tennis for free, the sport I love,” said is told CNN in 2015.
At just 15 years old, Tiafoe won the prestigious Orange Bowl, becoming the youngest boys’ singles champion in the tournament’s history – a remarkable achievement considering the list of previous champions that includes Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Ivan Lendl, Jim Courier, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg.
While many junior prodigies have come and gone, Tiafoe’s unique background and work ethic sets him apart from the rest. Of his parents, he said, “Since they tried so hard, I didn’t want to disappoint them. I felt like I didn’t want to miss out on the opportunities that were coming my way.”
Tiafoe turned professional in 2015 and became the first tennis player to sign with Jay Z’s agency Roc Nation Sports.
“Obviously Jay Z definitely caught my attention,” said Tiafoe 2015 der New York Times. “I thought it was pretty cool that he wanted me on the team.”
The U.S. hasn’t produced a men’s singles champion at the majors since Andy Roddick in 2003, and many fans and sportswriters are hoping the young Tiafoe can build on his remarkable five-set defeat to take the mantle.
“What a night for Tiafoe. Going up against a legend, huge crowd, plays so well, heart, guts, comeback, the whole thing. Great show,” tweeted The Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay.
“Hopefully this (defeat) will spur him on,” added USA Today’s Dan Wolken. “America needs a tennis star.”
‘More than a test’
Federer praised his opponent’s game and admitted that Tiafoe had given him trouble.
“It was more than a test, it was a good test. I think we both felt comfortable here… I’m very happy with the match, it was exciting and that’s the reason why I came to New York am to experience these emotions.
“He’s a great player and he has a great future ahead of him. The fifth (set) is a coin toss and it went to me.”
Referring to the back problems that have been bothering him in recent weeks, Federer said he was happy that he had gotten through his opening match unscathed.
“To survive a five-set match, you have to be in a good mood somehow.”
Federer: Winning US Open would be “a joke
For the Swiss, the appearance in Flushing Meadows was the first at a major tournament since winning the cup at Wimbledon in July.
By losing the first set to the unpopular Tiafoe, ranked 70th in the world, he dropped more sets at the US Open in his first hour on court than he did during his entire Wimbledon tournament. He gave in not a single sentence at the All England Club this year – the first man to achieve this since Björn Borg in 1976.
With this victory, the Swiss secured his eighth Wimbledon singles title and his 19th overall. He is trying to win the US Open for the first time since 2008.
“It would be a joke if I won three Slams this year out of nowhere,” said Federer in July, referring to Flushing Meadows.
“I know if I stay in shape I have a chance of doing well at the US Open, but winning it? Yeah, at some point I almost feel like I have to be realistic.”
Every time the Swiss has won both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in one season, he has also won the US Open (2004, 2006 and 2007).
“I will definitely try to get organized, prepare and be ready so that I have the best chance of doing well at the US Open,” said Federer.
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CNN’s Will Edmonds contributed reporting.
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Those: edition.cnn.com
2023-12-20 01:16:23
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