Watch ESPN ‘Primetime at the Open’ on Tuesday
Frances Tiafoe (L) Roger Federer (R) pre-match at the Miami Open (Art Seitz)
Frances Tiafoe will play on the biggest stage in tennis when he takes on 19-time Grand Slam Champion Roger Federer on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court in the opening round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows, NY on Tuesday.
The duo will clash for the second time at around 9:00 pm EST on Tuesday night. Their first meeting was in March this year at the Miami Open where Tiafoe pushed Federer to a first set tiebreak before the current Australian Open and Wimbledon champion prevailed, 7-6(2), 6-3.
Tiafoe comes into the US Open on the back of the biggest win of his career defeating world #6 German Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati earlier in August. Tiafoe broke Zverev’s 10-match win streak which included a title winning run at the ATP 500 Citi Open in Washington, DC and most notably defeating Federer in the Championship match to claim the ATP 1000 Couple Rogers crown in Montreal, Canada.
The 19-year-old is making his third main draw appearance at the US Open and will be looking to cause a first round upset after coming so close to a major shock at the same stage in 2016 against John Isner. Tiafoe claimed the opening two sets against the then American #1 before ultimately succumbing in a 5th set tiebreak.
“It was surreal to have that big match against Roger in Miami. Now I have to play him here in the first round which should be fun and I’m really excited about the match,” said Tiafoe looking ahead to facing Federer. “It’s good that I played him already. I know I can compete out there with the greatest of all time. We will both be ready to put on a good show and I’m going to leave it all on the court.”
