Frances Tiafoe returns to the hard courts of America with a win in Atlanta | ATP Tour

Matching Report

Tiafoe returns to American hard courts with Atlanta win

Top seed Sheton to face #NextGenATP Shang in the evening

July 25, 2024

In her first match since losing a five-set Wimbledon contest against former champion Carlos Alcaraz, Frances Tiafoe returned to the hard courts of the United States with a victory Thursday at the Atlanta Open.

The third seed got a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 result against Aslan Karatsev, bringing his power from across the pond to home soil. Tiafoe fired 18 aces – including one on match point – and saved three of four break points in the victory, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

“I'm trying to build on Wimbledon,” said Tiafoe, who recently started working with coach David Witt. “I haven't been this happy with my tennis in a long time. I had a great time at Wimbledon, I played a great match there in the third round. I want to build on that and put on a show for you guys.”

King Foe 👑🙌@FTiafoe aces by defeating Karatsev 6-4 3-6 6-3@ATLOpenTennis | #AtlantaOpen pic.twitter.com/0yST3GgfXh

– ATP Tour (@atptour) July 25, 2024

Now 16-15 on the year, Tiafoe entered the US hard court summer with 30 wins last season, reaching a PIF ATP Ranking of No. 10 in June. He entered Atlanta ranked World No. 29 this week, with his best result of 2024 the last appearance in Houston.

Next up for the American will be Yoshihito Nishioka in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Japanese star beat home favorite Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-4 to improve to 5-2 in her Lexus ATP Head2Head series against the former college star at UCLA.

Fourth seed Jordan Thompson also advanced with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Frenchman Harold Mayot. The Aussie will meet fifth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the quarters after the Spaniard's 7-5, 7-5 win over American Reilly Opelka.