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Frances Tiafoe Indian Wells 2021
ATP Tennis Players, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Tennis News, Tennis Tournaments

Frances Tiafoe trumps Stefanos Tsitsipas in repeat of Wimbledon heroics


Frances Tiafoe has beaten Stefanos Tsitsipas for the second time this season, rallying from a set down to defeat the world number three.

The two men were facing off for the third time in 2021, battling to reach the Vienna open semi-finals.

Tsitsipas claimed the opener 6-3 before Tiafoe levelled by taking the second 6-3 also. The Greek was then 3-0 up in the decider over Tiafoe before the world number 49 roared back to clinch the victory 6-4 in the third.

In fact, scenes were reminiscent of Tiafoe’s upset victory over Tsitsipas in the first round of Wimbledon back in June.

“[Tsitsipas] is a player I really like to play against, I like the match-up” Tiafoe expressed in his post-match interview. “He’s a hell of a player.

“But, I really wanted to win tonight. I love playing the best players in the world. I’ve said it for a long time now. I think my game matches up great against the best players.

“The key is to just keep battling, stay with them. I was super animated today, positive [and] negative emotions. But, I was going to compete until the end and that’s what I did.”

Tiafoe now holds a 27-21 win-loss record on the ATP tour this year. His winningest season came in 2018 with a 28-27 win-loss record, a tally the American looks set to surpass in 2021.

With a career-win-loss record of 97-116, Tiafoe also approaches his 100th career victory on the tour.

The interviewer then asked if this was up there as the best attitude that Tiafoe had ever shown in a match.

“For sure. Top players are so good when they’re ahead. So, it wasn’t easy. But he felt me staying there [with him] and he gave me some double faults.

“I took advantage. Any little thing he gave me I took advantage of it and ran with it.”

Tiafoe will next face Diego Schwartzman in the quarter-finals. The two men have face twice before, both in 2021, with Schwartzman coming out on top on both occasions.


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