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Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul try to add to the best French Open for US men in decades
PARIS (AP) — It's been 30 years since three American men reached Week 2 at the French Open. Back then, it was Andre Agassi, Michael Chang and Jim Courier — each of whom won the tournament at some point. This go-round, the trio is Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, all scheduled to be on court Sunday in fourth-round action at Roland-Garros. Advertisement 'Yeah, about time,' joked Jessica Pegula, who advanced Saturday to give the U.S. at least three women in the round of 16. 'It's exciting to see. Obviously you want to see your fellow countrymen do well on the other side, and I'm always actually keeping up with them quite a lot. So I hope they keep it going.' Who do the American men left in the French Open play on Sunday? Won't be easy, of course, perhaps especially for the 13th-seeded Shelton, the big-serving lefty who goes up against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain for a berth in the quarterfinals. No. 12 Paul takes on No. 25 Alexei Popyrin of Australia; No. 15 Tiafoe meets unseeded Daniel Altmaier of Germany. Not since Courier and Pete Sampras in 1996 have multiple Americans made it to the quarterfinals in Paris. Advertisement Historically, the slower red clay used at the French Open has not been particularly kind to men from the United States. Some of that is simply that they tend to grow up playing mostly on hard courts, which reward a big-strike style of hard-hitting tennis, and so they are not as accustomed to the patience and footwork required on the red dirt. 'I really do think everyone can play on this surface," Paul said. 'I remind myself it's just tennis.' But for years, Paul said, he was not excited to participate in the French Open. And that's coming from someone who won the event's junior title as a teen in 2015. 'Now I come over here and I look at it as an opportunity,' said Paul, 28, who grew up in North Carolina. 'I think all the Americans do.' Advertisement Andre Agassi in 1999 was the last US man to win the Roland-Garros title Agassi, in 1999, was the last American man to win the trophy at the French Open — and the nation hasn't had a male finalist since then. Before that, it was Courier in 1991 and 1992. Before that, it was Chang in 1989. And before that, you have to go all the way back to Tony Trabert in 1954 and 1955. American women have had much more success: 15 singles titles in the Open era, including seven for Chris Evert and three for Serena Williams, plus 13 runner-up showings, most recently by Coco Gauff in 2022. 'It's super critical not to worry about what was and just worry about what is,' said Tiafoe, a 27-year-old from Maryland who twice made the semifinals at the hard-court U.S. Open but began his Roland-Garros career by going 0-6. 'Currently we're at the French Open, and just try to be elite. This is where it counts. So guys just believe it.' Advertisement Unlike in New York, where Tiafoe is the center of attention and a fan favorite, a scene he loves — 'There is so much anticipation; there's so much energy' — Paris, he said, presents 'a different vibe' and 'more of a low-key kind of thing.' So far, so good. Ben Shelton tries to stop the defending champion in Paris There wasn't likely to be anything low key about Shelton vs. Alcaraz in the main stadium, Court Philippe-Chatrier. They are among the flashiest, most entertaining athletes in men's tennis at the moment. Alcaraz is seeded No. 2. At 22, the same age as Shelton — who won an NCAA title for the University of Florida — Alcaraz already owns four Grand Slam titles, with at least one each on the clay at the French Open, the grass at Wimbledon and the hard courts at the U.S. Open. Advertisement 'That's a pretty cool opportunity, pretty cool experience, that not a lot of people get or see in their lifetime," said Shelton, a semifinalist at the U.S. Open in 2023 and the Australian Open in January but 2-2 at Roland-Garros before this year. 'For me, I'm definitely going to enjoy it and go out there and see what I can do, because I'm starting to gain some speed, gain a little bit of traction, on this surface and starting to see some of my best tennis. I like to think of myself as dangerous whenever I get to that place.' ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: More AP tennis: Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press
Associated Press
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul try to add to the best French Open for US men in decades
PARIS (AP) — It's been 30 years since three American men reached Week 2 at the French Open. Back then, it was Andre Agassi, Michael Chang and Jim Courier — each of whom won the tournament at some point. This go-round, the trio is Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, all scheduled to be on court Sunday in fourth-round action at Roland-Garros. 'Yeah, about time,' joked Jessica Pegula, who advanced Saturday to give the U.S. at least three women in the round of 16. 'It's exciting to see. Obviously you want to see your fellow countrymen do well on the other side, and I'm always actually keeping up with them quite a lot. So I hope they keep it going.' Who do the American men left in the French Open play on Sunday? Won't be easy, of course, perhaps especially for the 13th-seeded Shelton, the big-serving lefty who goes up against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain for a berth in the quarterfinals. No. 12 Paul takes on No. 25 Alexei Popyrin of Australia; No. 15 Tiafoe meets unseeded Daniel Altmaier of Germany. Not since Courier and Pete Sampras in 1996 have multiple Americans made it to the quarterfinals in Paris. Historically, the slower red clay used at the French Open has not been particularly kind to men from the United States. Some of that is simply that they tend to grow up playing mostly on hard courts, which reward a big-strike style of hard-hitting tennis, and so they are not as accustomed to the patience and footwork required on the red dirt. 'I really do think everyone can play on this surface,' Paul said. 'I remind myself it's just tennis.' But for years, Paul said, he was not excited to participate in the French Open. And that's coming from someone who won the event's junior title as a teen in 2015. 'Now I come over here and I look at it as an opportunity,' said Paul, 28, who grew up in North Carolina. 'I think all the Americans do.' Andre Agassi in 1999 was the last US man to win the Roland-Garros title Agassi, in 1999, was the last American man to win the trophy at the French Open — and the nation hasn't had a male finalist since then. Before that, it was Courier in 1991 and 1992. Before that, it was Chang in 1989. And before that, you have to go all the way back to Tony Trabert in 1954 and 1955. American women have had much more success: 15 singles titles in the Open era, including seven for Chris Evert and three for Serena Williams, plus 13 runner-up showings, most recently by Coco Gauff in 2022. 'It's super critical not to worry about what was and just worry about what is,' said Tiafoe, a 27-year-old from Maryland who twice made the semifinals at the hard-court U.S. Open but began his Roland-Garros career by going 0-6. 'Currently we're at the French Open, and just try to be elite. This is where it counts. So guys just believe it.' Unlike in New York, where Tiafoe is the center of attention and a fan favorite, a scene he loves — 'There is so much anticipation; there's so much energy' — Paris, he said, presents 'a different vibe' and 'more of a low-key kind of thing.' So far, so good. Ben Shelton tries to stop the defending champion in Paris There wasn't likely to be anything low key about Shelton vs. Alcaraz in the main stadium, Court Philippe-Chatrier. They are among the flashiest, most entertaining athletes in men's tennis at the moment. Alcaraz is seeded No. 2. At 22, the same age as Shelton — who won an NCAA title for the University of Florida — Alcaraz already owns four Grand Slam titles, with at least one each on the clay at the French Open, the grass at Wimbledon and the hard courts at the U.S. Open. 'That's a pretty cool opportunity, pretty cool experience, that not a lot of people get or see in their lifetime,' said Shelton, a semifinalist at the U.S. Open in 2023 and the Australian Open in January but 2-2 at Roland-Garros before this year. 'For me, I'm definitely going to enjoy it and go out there and see what I can do, because I'm starting to gain some speed, gain a little bit of traction, on this surface and starting to see some of my best tennis. I like to think of myself as dangerous whenever I get to that place.' ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: More AP tennis:
ABC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Alexei Popyrin makes fourth round of French Open without dropping a set after downing Nuno Borges
Alexei Popyrin says he couldn't have imagined he'd end up as the last Aussie man standing at the French Open — but he's determined to keep the flag flying high after ensuring there would be no depressing hangover following Alex de Minaur's shock exit. On a roasting Friday in Paris, the country's No.2 player got hot in the Court 14 furnace in which de Minaur's hopes had crashed and burned the previous day, downing doughty Portuguese Nuno Borges 6-4 7-6 (13-11) 7-6 (7-5) to reach the last-16 without having yet dropped a set. "We all expected Demon to be in the fourth round," admitted Popyrin, when asked if he'd have thought at the start of the week he'd be the final men's survivor. "I don't think I could have thought that — Alex is probably the most consistent player on tour — but that's the case now. I'm only focusing on myself. I want to keep going as far as I can, that's all I'm thinking." And there's no reason that couldn't be very far. Last year Popyrin reached the last-16 in the US Open, but now he has the chance to go even further in a slam as he faces American iron man, 12th seed Tommy Paul, who outlasted Karen Khachanov 6-3 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 3-6 6-3. And though, ultimately, Popyrin may have made harder work of his win than he would have liked, the 25th seed still felt it was a major boon to have got the job done in three-straight in three hours, while Paul was slogging for 4 hours 7 minutes after another five-set slog in the first round which had lasted 3:38. "It was a really good match from my point. Happy I wrapped it up in three sets. It's really hot out there, really difficult conditions," said Popyrin. "I played the first set-and-a-half really, really solid, how I've been playing all week, but had a bit of a mental slip-up at the end of the second but managed to dig deep in the tiebreak. "The third set was more a mental battle than a physical battle on my side trying to hold serve, and then trying to get opportunities on his return, which I had towards the end. But still managed to kind of keep my head and still play well in the tiebreak." Popyrin now joins an elite group of his compatriots to have made it this far on the Paris clay since the turn of the Millennium alongside Mark Philippoussis (2000), Wayne Arthurs (2001), Lleyton Hewitt (2000-02, 2004, 2006-07) and Alex de Minaur (2024). The courts hardening and speeding up in the sunshine certainly suited his big serving as Popyrin dropped just three points on his delivery in the opening set but he had a bit of an aberration near the end of the second. He squandered a set point at 3-5 and twice served for the set only to deliver a couple of error-prone games — the only times he was broken in the match. Eventually, he needed plenty of resolve in a dog-fight of a tiebreak, saving a couple of set points and having four more of his own repelled before the Portuguese finally crashed a backhand long. Popyrin's relief was palpable. "It was very important. One-set all is a completely different ball game." His serve was in formidable nick, generally, his 13 aces and 80 per cent success rate on his first delivery suggesting he's going to be hard work for Paul to subdue. "He played unbelievable tennis there (in the Canadian Open last year). That's what he's capable of. He can take the racquet out of your hand sometimes," said the American. "Hopefully, I can use the clay to my advantage and kind of slow things down a little bit." AAP
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Tennis-A third five-setter in a row? Bring it on, says marathon man Tommy Paul
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 Tommy Paul of the U.S. in action during his third round match against Russia's Karen Khachanov REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq PARIS (Reuters) -American 12th-seed Tommy Paul has already played 14 sets and more than 10 hours of tennis in just three rounds at the French Open but he is ready for another five-setter, he said on Friday after beating Karen Khachanov in a marathon match. His third round 6-3 3-6 7-6(7) 3-6 6-3 win over the Russian on Friday lasted a gruelling four hours and seven minutes on a hot and sunny day, but the world number 12 is ready for more, having reached round four for the first time in Paris. It came after another five-set match in round two following four sets in the opener. "If I have to play five sets again in the next match, I'll do it," Paul told a press conference. It's definitely harder than winning straight-set matches." "But, I don't know, I feel like that's what we train for. Definitely happy to get through in any way, whether it's five sets." A junior champion in Paris 10 years ago, Paul is no stranger to the Parisian clay. He will next face Australia's 25th-seed Alexei Popyrin for a spot in the quarter-finals. "Obviously your body gets worn down and tired, but you got to push through it. It's a Grand Slam," Paul said. "I mean, your mind drives everything. When your mind goes, sometimes your body can go too. That's the most important thing, to stay locked in. "Tell yourself to keep going, whatever ticks some people have to keep themselves moving forward and in a positive mindset. Everyone is different. That plays a huge role in playing long matches or playing slams in general," he said. (Reporting by Karolos GrohmannEditing by Toby Davis)
CNA
a day ago
- General
- CNA
A third five-setter in a row? Bring it on, says marathon man Tommy Paul
PARIS :American 12th-seed Tommy Paul has already played 14 sets and more than 10 hours of tennis in just three rounds at the French Open but he is ready for another five-setter, he said on Friday after beating Karen Khachanov in a marathon match. His third round 6-3 3-6 7-6(7) 3-6 6-3 win over the Russian on Friday lasted a gruelling four hours and seven minutes on a hot and sunny day, but the world number 12 is ready for more, having reached round four for the first time in Paris. It came after another five-set match in round two following four sets in the opener. "If I have to play five sets again in the next match, I'll do it," Paul told a press conference. It's definitely harder than winning straight-set matches." "But, I don't know, I feel like that's what we train for. Definitely happy to get through in any way, whether it's five sets." A junior champion in Paris 10 years ago, Paul is no stranger to the Parisian clay. He will next face Australia's 25th-seed Alexei Popyrin for a spot in the quarter-finals. "Obviously your body gets worn down and tired, but you got to push through it. It's a Grand Slam," Paul said. "I mean, your mind drives everything. When your mind goes, sometimes your body can go too. That's the most important thing, to stay locked in. "Tell yourself to keep going, whatever ticks some people have to keep themselves moving forward and in a positive mindset. Everyone is different. That plays a huge role in playing long matches or playing slams in general," he said.
