By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, October 30, 2021
Qualifier Frances Tiafoe caught fire fighting back from a one-set, 2-5 deficit to stun Jannik Sinner 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 and storm into his first final of the year in Vienna.
Photo credit: Getty
Midway through the second set, Jannik Sinner sent France Tiafoe careening corner to corner with such lung-sucking precision the American ran off the court seeking reinforcements—and a reprieve—from the barrage.
Sprinting for a running forehand, Tiafoe kept running right into the crowd. A winded and smiling Tiafoe embraced a couple of fans leaning on their shoulders for support.
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Engaging the crowd empowered Tiafoe to electrifying shotmaking sparking a stunning 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 comeback conquest of Jannik Sinner—and sending the American qualifier into his first final of the year in Vienna.
It's Tiafoe's first Tour-level final since Estoril in May of 2018.
It’s a brutally painful loss for the 20-year-old Sinner, who was commanding the center of the court, jerking Tiafoe side-to-side, and served for the final at 6-3, 5-4 only to see Tiafoe unleash his all-court skills, incite fans into a frenzy and inspire a spirited comeback.
The seventh-seeded Sinner may well have also felt the pressure as he aims to join compatriot Matteo Berrettini qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, Italy. Sinner moved ahead of buddy Hubert Hurkacz in the eighth and final spot in the race to Turin with next week’s Rolex Paris Masters deciding the final line-up.
Down a set and 2-5 to a sharp Sinner, thinks looked so bleak for Tiafoe it seemed a matter of moments before the customary post-match handshake.
A stubborn Tiafoe was determined to go down swinging and give Vienna fans a show they likely won’t forget.
Moving closer to the baseline to take returns on the rise, Tiafoe delivered some phenomenal running strikes, hit a half-volley tweener from inside the service line, serve-and-volleyed successfully on some key points, drilled Sinner twice with jarring body blows, carved some jaw-dropping drop shots and looked like he was having the time of his life punctuating some crazy-cool points high-fiving fans in the front row as if buzzed by his own entertaining exploits.
This wild and wondrous week could prove to be a career turning point for Tiafoe, who has knocked off three consecutive Top 20 opponents—third-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas, 16th-ranked Diego Schwartzman and the 11th-ranked Sinner—for the first time in his career. Today’s inspired comeback elevates Tiafoe’s 2021 record to 29-21—the most single-season wins of his career—setting up tomorrow’s blockbuster final vs. Olympic gold-medal champion Alexander Zverev.
In today’s first semifinal, the second-seeded Zverev soared past 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 6-3 into his fifth final of the season.
“I finally found my rhythm from the baseline because I was really struggling,” Zverev said afterward. “I didn’t feel the ball well and I spent some time on the court after the match yesterday and warmed up for an hour and a half before the match today and I finally got it.”
It’s been a milestone week for Zverev, who posted his 300th career win on Thursday, his 50th win of season on Friday and with today’s 68-minute sweep has now won 24 of his last 26 matches.
Zverev will play for his fifth title of the season tomorrow against an opponent he knows very well.
The second-seeded German has won five of six career meetings vs. Tiafoe, including a marathon five-set victory at the 2019 US Open.
Sinner was so sharp commanding the center of the court in today’s 6-3, 6-??? Semifinal sweep The Italian wearing the bright yellow baseball cap slid his third ace out wide for a 5-3 lead after 35 minutes of play.
Stalking the baseline, Sinner singed a diagonal backhand for set point. Banging a backhand return right back at Tiafoe, Sinner drew the error snatching a sharp opening set in 39 minutes.
After Tiafoe banged a rib-rocking pass right into the body that left Sinner trying to slink away from the shot, the American raised a hand in offering an apology. Sinner was too busy rocketing deep drives to notice.
Bursting out of the blocks quickly, Sinner scooped a superb running backhand pass breaking with the blast and a raised index finger for 2-0.
Muting the American’s uprising, Sinner slammed a backhand winner down the line extending his lead to 4-1.
Even when Tiafoe produced a slick serve-and-volley in the sixth game, Sinner slashed a brilliant running forehand pass that left the American winding up in a mock effort of tossing his Yonex stick at the Italian in frustration.
Still, Tiafoe kept fighting.
Working with coach and former Top 10 player Wayne Ferreira, Tiafoe has tried to impose his transition and net skills more and play more points with a purpose. A fired-up Tiafoe entertained and engaged the crowd and amped up his energy carving out a fine backhand volley that helped him break back for 4-5.
Elevating even higher in the 11th game, Tiafoe tapped an exquisite drop volley winner then touched two lines—bolting a backhand return off the sideline and shoveling a half-volley off the same sideline—for double break point. A spooked Sinner, who failed to serve out the match on his first attempted, succumbed to Tiafoe’s pressure double-faulting away the break and a 6-5 lead.
Tiafoe threw down a serve winner sealing his fifth straight game and the second set then paused near net to nod in affirmation of the crowd’s cheers forcing a final set after 97 minutes of wildly entertaining play.
After a bathroom break, the 11th-ranked Italian returned to court and dodged a break point in the opening game of the decider to snap his five-game slide and shift the stress back to Tiafoe.
By then, Tiafoe was thumping his strokes with more vigor and continuing to use his net game to test Sinner. Tiafoe drew an error breaking for a 3-1 lead in the decider.
Tiafoe closed in stirring style thundering successive aces and thrusting his arms in the air while soaking in a well-deserved rousing ovation from the appreciative crowd.
It was Tiafoe's fourth three set win, including two in qualifying, this week, which makes you wonder how much strength will the American have left in his legs against the big-hitting Zverev? Who knows? But if Tiafoe brings the brand of dynamic tennis he's shown all week it should be a joy to watch.