Frances Tiafoe upsets Andrey Rublev in front of Washington crowd | ATP Tour

Matching Report

Friday Night’s Enemies: Tiafoe upsets Rublev in front of a Washington crowd

Korda, Shelton, Cobolli also move to SFs

August 03, 2024

Local legend Frances Tiafoe broke new ground on Friday night at the Mubadala Citi DC Open. The American rode a big Washington crowd to his first Top 10 win since 2022, with his 6-4, 7-6(3) upset of top seed Andrey Rublev sending him into the semifinals for the first time at the ATP 500. .

“I saw the crowd and I said, ‘God, this is going to be epic tonight,'” Tiafoe said. “Andrey and I told him before, it’s going to be a riot. I was so happy to see everyone come out on Friday night and want to come and see me. It was amazing.”

The Maryland native broke down midway through the opening set after an electric start, then came back from 1-4 down in the second to advance in his 2014 ATP Tour debut.

“It helped me early on to work really well [a big forehand] and two more shots… I was hitting a lot of good volleys and quick shots,” said the fifth seed. “That kept me going. It’s one of those things where you’re like, ‘Ah, it’s going to be one of those days.’ Then you just ride hard and try to ride the guy.”

After improving to 3-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head against Rublev, Tiafoe moved up two spots to No. 27 this week in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He can re-enter the Top 25 by winning his first title of 2024 on Sunday.

Next up for the 26-year-old is an all-American semi-final against Sebastian Korda.

“He’s a clean player,” Tiafoe said of his next opponent. “He works well, he returns well, he moves well for a big boy. I’m going to have to play really well, play well. Whoever can be on the front foot and tell the other guy is going to be in a place to win. I hope that’s me.”

Korda, after saving two match points on Thursday against Thanasi Kokkinakis, got a very straight win against another Aussie on Friday. With a result of 6-4, 6-2 against Jordan Thompson, the fourth-seeded American advanced to the fourth semi-final this season.

The win saw Korda bounce back. No. 20 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, a mark that will match his top PIF ATP ranking from June. The 24-year-old could move up to number 18 if he matches his father, Petr Korda (1992), by winning the Washington title.

In his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Thompson, Korda hit 10 aces and saved one break point against him, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

A different semi-final will see second seed Ben Shelton take on top seed Flavio Cobolli.

Shelton led a resurgent Denis Shapovalov 7-6(5), 6-6(6-3), and had three match points when the Canadian was sent off after making comments to fans. By going through the all-time battle, the American improved to 4-0 in quarterfinals on home soil and improved his season record to 26-16 – equaling his win streak since 2023, his first full year on the ATP Tour.

Cobolli won 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (2) against #NextGenATP American Alex Michelsen. The 22-year-old Italian, who competed in the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF last November, saved five points against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round to reach his first ATP 500 quarter-final. He is now through to the tour’s second semi-final, after reaching that stage in Geneva in May.

Cobolli moved up six places this week to No. 42 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, setting a career high. He will crack the Top 40 with one win and move into the Top 30 with his first title.