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French Open 2025: Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe become first American men to reach quarterfinals since 2003
French Open 2025: Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe become first American men to reach quarterfinals since 2003

Yahoo

time13 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

French Open 2025: Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe become first American men to reach quarterfinals since 2003

Tommy Paul became the first American men's tennis player to advance to the French Open quarterfinals in 22 years with a straight-set victory over Alexei Popyrin, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. The No. 12 seed needed five sets to defeat Márton Fucsovics in the second round and Karen Khachanov in the third. Meanwhile, Popyrin, No. 25 in the draw, hadn't lost a set in his first three matches of this tournament. So a relatively easy fourth-round win for Paul was a surprise. Advertisement Popyrin took an early advantage, breaking Paul's serve to win the first game. However, Paul quickly shook off that slow start to recover and take control of the match with a 5-3 lead. Popyrin looked as if he might rally after taking an 0-40 lead in the next game. But Paul bounced back to win the next three points, getting to nearly every return and landing difficult shots to win that first set. The Australian also helped Paul get through the three sets rather quickly by beating himself, committing 37 unforced errors during the match. At several points, Popyrin turned to his coaches box to look for answers. Or to vent frustration at his mistakes. Following the match, Paul expressed relief over not having to play a third consecutive five-set match, beating Popyrin in less than two hours. (His previous three matches lasted a total of nearly 11 hours.) "I am very happy to get a straight sets win," he said, via USA Today. "I have been playing some very long matches so that felt really good. Shorter matches like this help a lot." Advertisement The last American men's player to get past the fourth round at Roland-Garros was Andre Agassi in 2003, who entered the round of 16 by defeating Flávio Saretta. In the quarterfinals, Agassi lost to Guillermo Coria in four sets. Paul will face Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated fellow American Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Yet if Frances Tiafoe wins his match versus Daniel Altmaier, the U.S. could have multiple players in the quarters for the first time since Jim Courier and Pete Sampras did so in 1996. Frances Tiafoe gets to quarters without losing a set Frances Tiafoe has not lost a set during his four matches en route to the 2025 French Open quarterfinals. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Frances Tiafoe will join Paul in the quarterfinals, defeating Daniel Altmaier in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6. That puts two American players in the French Open's round of 16 for the first time since Jim Courier and Pete Sampras did so (and played each other) in 1996. Advertisement Tiafoe has not lost a set in his four matches at Roland-Garros thus far. On his way to the quarters, he defeated Roman Safiullin, Pablo Carreño Busta and fellow American Sebastian Korda before meeting Altmaier in the fourth round. Though it was a straight-set victory for the No. 15 seed, Altmaier didn't go down easily. He took a 5-2 lead in the third set, but mistakes allowed Tiafoe to take it to a tiebreaker. One such error occurred when Altmaier returned a forehand right at Tiafoe, rather than angle it toward the open part of the court. In his post-match interview, Tiafoe acknowledged that Altmaier had him running all over the court, which isn't the way he prefers to play. But he was also rightly pleased at how well he's played. Advertisement "Third set he started getting a lot of balls in high, felt like boys' under-12s out here," he said, via The Athletic. "Happy to get through, very tough, won every match in straights and only played one set that wasn't clean. Pretty impressive for me." Tiafoe will play the winner between No. 8 Lorenzo Musetti and No. 10 Holger Rune on Tuesday. If he wins that match, either Alcaraz or an All-American match with Paul is up next.

Back to drawing board for Popyrin in Paris anti-climax
Back to drawing board for Popyrin in Paris anti-climax

The Advertiser

time16 hours ago

  • Sport
  • The Advertiser

Back to drawing board for Popyrin in Paris anti-climax

Alexei Popyrin admits it's back to the drawing board in the search for big-time tennis consistency after his encouraging French Open week ended in anti-climax with a chastening lesson at the hands of American iron man Tommy Paul. The last Australian man standing at Roland Garros wasn't about to hide his disappointment after the crushing 6-3 6-3 6-3 hammering by No.12 seed Paul but Popyrin could at least be enthused about a run which took him to the last-16 again, his best Paris outing yet. But after admitting he'd ended his tournament feeling "mentally fried" while Paul, even after two back-to-back draining five-setters, still looked as fresh as a daisy, Australia's No.2 reckoned he would be back feverishly working with his team to discover the match-by-match consistency that still eludes him. Tremendous in his third-round win over Nuno Borges, this time Popyrin was mistake-riddled, coughing up 37 unforced errors and wild on the forehand while his backhand, which he's reworked successfully under new co-coach Wayne Ferreira, completely misfired. "I'm definitely happy with my week's work, just disappointed with the way it ended," shrugged the 25-year-old Sydneysider. "Look, if I lost this match and I played good tennis then, then I would have been sufficed and happy, but I lost and didn't play my best, really didn't do what I wanted to do, what I've been what I've been banging on about all week, consistency. "There was no consistency today, it was a very, very up-and-down match. And it was just not the way I planned for it." Outplayed in all departments, it felt like a huge let down for the 25th seed who had been hoping to go at least one round further than last year's US Open when he downed Novak Djokovic before falling in the last-16 to Frances Tiafoe. His exit in nine minutes under two hours meant Daria Kasatkina, in her first slam since gaining permanent residency, is now the last Australian standing, as she faces Russian teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva in Monday's last-16 women's clash. Popyrin had harboured high hopes after not dropping a set in his first three contests, and all started swimmingly as he broke the 28-year-old Paul in the opening game. Alas, that was as good as it got for him. The American, renowned for his toughness, saved the rest of the 10 break points he faced throughout, never allowing the Australian to gain a foothold. "He just played a tactically spot-on match. If you want to beat me, that's the way to play. He managed to break down my backhand somehow and we're gonna have to go back watch that and figure out why, and then we'll work on it," sighed Popyrin. "He played really, really well, I didn't bring my best level, but I still had chances in the first and second sets ... but he played a great match." Any chance of a comeback was soon extinguished when Paul, for a third set running, struck with an early break, and Popyrin cut a forlorn figure by the time a 26th Paul winner flashed by him on the final point. He's the first American man in the quarter-finals here since Andre Agassi in 2003 and Popyrin feels Paul is a live contender as he plays either compatriot Ben Shelton or the reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarters. As for his own progress, he's encouraged about getting on to the grass which, in theory at least, should aid his big weapons. Alexei Popyrin admits it's back to the drawing board in the search for big-time tennis consistency after his encouraging French Open week ended in anti-climax with a chastening lesson at the hands of American iron man Tommy Paul. The last Australian man standing at Roland Garros wasn't about to hide his disappointment after the crushing 6-3 6-3 6-3 hammering by No.12 seed Paul but Popyrin could at least be enthused about a run which took him to the last-16 again, his best Paris outing yet. But after admitting he'd ended his tournament feeling "mentally fried" while Paul, even after two back-to-back draining five-setters, still looked as fresh as a daisy, Australia's No.2 reckoned he would be back feverishly working with his team to discover the match-by-match consistency that still eludes him. Tremendous in his third-round win over Nuno Borges, this time Popyrin was mistake-riddled, coughing up 37 unforced errors and wild on the forehand while his backhand, which he's reworked successfully under new co-coach Wayne Ferreira, completely misfired. "I'm definitely happy with my week's work, just disappointed with the way it ended," shrugged the 25-year-old Sydneysider. "Look, if I lost this match and I played good tennis then, then I would have been sufficed and happy, but I lost and didn't play my best, really didn't do what I wanted to do, what I've been what I've been banging on about all week, consistency. "There was no consistency today, it was a very, very up-and-down match. And it was just not the way I planned for it." Outplayed in all departments, it felt like a huge let down for the 25th seed who had been hoping to go at least one round further than last year's US Open when he downed Novak Djokovic before falling in the last-16 to Frances Tiafoe. His exit in nine minutes under two hours meant Daria Kasatkina, in her first slam since gaining permanent residency, is now the last Australian standing, as she faces Russian teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva in Monday's last-16 women's clash. Popyrin had harboured high hopes after not dropping a set in his first three contests, and all started swimmingly as he broke the 28-year-old Paul in the opening game. Alas, that was as good as it got for him. The American, renowned for his toughness, saved the rest of the 10 break points he faced throughout, never allowing the Australian to gain a foothold. "He just played a tactically spot-on match. If you want to beat me, that's the way to play. He managed to break down my backhand somehow and we're gonna have to go back watch that and figure out why, and then we'll work on it," sighed Popyrin. "He played really, really well, I didn't bring my best level, but I still had chances in the first and second sets ... but he played a great match." Any chance of a comeback was soon extinguished when Paul, for a third set running, struck with an early break, and Popyrin cut a forlorn figure by the time a 26th Paul winner flashed by him on the final point. He's the first American man in the quarter-finals here since Andre Agassi in 2003 and Popyrin feels Paul is a live contender as he plays either compatriot Ben Shelton or the reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarters. As for his own progress, he's encouraged about getting on to the grass which, in theory at least, should aid his big weapons. Alexei Popyrin admits it's back to the drawing board in the search for big-time tennis consistency after his encouraging French Open week ended in anti-climax with a chastening lesson at the hands of American iron man Tommy Paul. The last Australian man standing at Roland Garros wasn't about to hide his disappointment after the crushing 6-3 6-3 6-3 hammering by No.12 seed Paul but Popyrin could at least be enthused about a run which took him to the last-16 again, his best Paris outing yet. But after admitting he'd ended his tournament feeling "mentally fried" while Paul, even after two back-to-back draining five-setters, still looked as fresh as a daisy, Australia's No.2 reckoned he would be back feverishly working with his team to discover the match-by-match consistency that still eludes him. Tremendous in his third-round win over Nuno Borges, this time Popyrin was mistake-riddled, coughing up 37 unforced errors and wild on the forehand while his backhand, which he's reworked successfully under new co-coach Wayne Ferreira, completely misfired. "I'm definitely happy with my week's work, just disappointed with the way it ended," shrugged the 25-year-old Sydneysider. "Look, if I lost this match and I played good tennis then, then I would have been sufficed and happy, but I lost and didn't play my best, really didn't do what I wanted to do, what I've been what I've been banging on about all week, consistency. "There was no consistency today, it was a very, very up-and-down match. And it was just not the way I planned for it." Outplayed in all departments, it felt like a huge let down for the 25th seed who had been hoping to go at least one round further than last year's US Open when he downed Novak Djokovic before falling in the last-16 to Frances Tiafoe. His exit in nine minutes under two hours meant Daria Kasatkina, in her first slam since gaining permanent residency, is now the last Australian standing, as she faces Russian teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva in Monday's last-16 women's clash. Popyrin had harboured high hopes after not dropping a set in his first three contests, and all started swimmingly as he broke the 28-year-old Paul in the opening game. Alas, that was as good as it got for him. The American, renowned for his toughness, saved the rest of the 10 break points he faced throughout, never allowing the Australian to gain a foothold. "He just played a tactically spot-on match. If you want to beat me, that's the way to play. He managed to break down my backhand somehow and we're gonna have to go back watch that and figure out why, and then we'll work on it," sighed Popyrin. "He played really, really well, I didn't bring my best level, but I still had chances in the first and second sets ... but he played a great match." Any chance of a comeback was soon extinguished when Paul, for a third set running, struck with an early break, and Popyrin cut a forlorn figure by the time a 26th Paul winner flashed by him on the final point. He's the first American man in the quarter-finals here since Andre Agassi in 2003 and Popyrin feels Paul is a live contender as he plays either compatriot Ben Shelton or the reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarters. As for his own progress, he's encouraged about getting on to the grass which, in theory at least, should aid his big weapons. Alexei Popyrin admits it's back to the drawing board in the search for big-time tennis consistency after his encouraging French Open week ended in anti-climax with a chastening lesson at the hands of American iron man Tommy Paul. The last Australian man standing at Roland Garros wasn't about to hide his disappointment after the crushing 6-3 6-3 6-3 hammering by No.12 seed Paul but Popyrin could at least be enthused about a run which took him to the last-16 again, his best Paris outing yet. But after admitting he'd ended his tournament feeling "mentally fried" while Paul, even after two back-to-back draining five-setters, still looked as fresh as a daisy, Australia's No.2 reckoned he would be back feverishly working with his team to discover the match-by-match consistency that still eludes him. Tremendous in his third-round win over Nuno Borges, this time Popyrin was mistake-riddled, coughing up 37 unforced errors and wild on the forehand while his backhand, which he's reworked successfully under new co-coach Wayne Ferreira, completely misfired. "I'm definitely happy with my week's work, just disappointed with the way it ended," shrugged the 25-year-old Sydneysider. "Look, if I lost this match and I played good tennis then, then I would have been sufficed and happy, but I lost and didn't play my best, really didn't do what I wanted to do, what I've been what I've been banging on about all week, consistency. "There was no consistency today, it was a very, very up-and-down match. And it was just not the way I planned for it." Outplayed in all departments, it felt like a huge let down for the 25th seed who had been hoping to go at least one round further than last year's US Open when he downed Novak Djokovic before falling in the last-16 to Frances Tiafoe. His exit in nine minutes under two hours meant Daria Kasatkina, in her first slam since gaining permanent residency, is now the last Australian standing, as she faces Russian teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva in Monday's last-16 women's clash. Popyrin had harboured high hopes after not dropping a set in his first three contests, and all started swimmingly as he broke the 28-year-old Paul in the opening game. Alas, that was as good as it got for him. The American, renowned for his toughness, saved the rest of the 10 break points he faced throughout, never allowing the Australian to gain a foothold. "He just played a tactically spot-on match. If you want to beat me, that's the way to play. He managed to break down my backhand somehow and we're gonna have to go back watch that and figure out why, and then we'll work on it," sighed Popyrin. "He played really, really well, I didn't bring my best level, but I still had chances in the first and second sets ... but he played a great match." Any chance of a comeback was soon extinguished when Paul, for a third set running, struck with an early break, and Popyrin cut a forlorn figure by the time a 26th Paul winner flashed by him on the final point. He's the first American man in the quarter-finals here since Andre Agassi in 2003 and Popyrin feels Paul is a live contender as he plays either compatriot Ben Shelton or the reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarters. As for his own progress, he's encouraged about getting on to the grass which, in theory at least, should aid his big weapons.

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