By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday February 8, 2024
Frances Tiafoe shook off a slow down and races past 19-year-old Alex Michelsen in Dallas.
Photo Source: TTV
Seeded first at an ATP event for just the second time, Frances Tiafoe didn’t play like a man that was feeling the weight of expectations on Thursday night in Dallas. The last time he was seeded first, last year in Houston, Tiafoe won the title, and he took a step in that direction in front of an enthusiastic crowd, defeating rising teen Alex Michelsen, 6-4, 6-3.
14th-ranked Tiafoe overcame a shaky start, rallying from 4-2 down in the opening set to win 10 of the final 13 games as he improved to 3-2 on the season and set a quarterfinal with American Marcos Giron.
“Once he broke me I had to really up my level,” Tiafoe said. “I wanted to be the aggressor and make him play on my terms, and from there I played really well, a lot of creativity, and I got a little lucky at times – it was a good night.”
It feels like it could be a make or break season for Tiafoe, who parted ways with longtime coach Wayne Ferreira and hired Diego Moyano, whom he worked with in his formative years.
“We’re putting a lot of time on the court,” Tiafoe told Blair Henley in his post-match on-court interview. “We worked together when I was younger so it’s nice to have a guy who cares so much. He’s just trying to get me to have fun, play aggressive, and keep doing what I do.”
26-year-old Tiafoe has only won five of his last 14 matches, dating back to a quarterfinal loss to Ben Shelton at last year’s US Open. He is into the quarterfinals at Dallas for the second consecutive year.
In other action on Thursday, Dominik Koepfer took out Rinky Hijikata 6-3, 7-6(5) to set a quarterfinal with Tommy Paul, while Jordan Thompson defeated Denis Kudla 6-1, 6-1 to arrange a clash with Shelton.
Four Americans – Tiafoe, Giron, Shelton and Paul – are still alive in the draw.