Frances Tiafoe sets up Australian Open fourth round against Grigor Dimitrov - UBITENNIS

Frances Tiafoe sets up Australian Open fourth round against Grigor Dimitrov

By sampaolo
5 Min Read

US rising star Frances Tiafoe came back from a deficit of 2 sets to 1 down to edge Andreas Seppi 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-3. The first set went on serve with no break points until the tie-break.

Seppi got two mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-3. Tiafoe converted his third break point chance in the sixth game of the second set. Seppi was not able to earn a break-back chance and dropped the second set 6-3.

In the third set Seppi earned an early break in the second game and held his next three service games to take a 5-3 lead before Tiafoe broke back in the ninth game. Seppi sealed the third set 6-4 with his second break.

Tiafoe bounced back breaking serve in the first game of the fourth set and held his service game after saving a break-back point at love in the second game at deuce. Tiafoe saved three break points at 5-4 to serve out the fourth set at deuce. Tiafoe broke twice in the first and ninth games to close out the five-set match.

“When I saved the breakpoint at 5-4, it was a huge turning point for me. That was a huge hold for me to extend the match. I did no twin a tennis match going into this week, but I had a great off-season. I worked hard. I had a greak year in 2018, so obviously you grow confidence from that”, said Tiafoe in the post match interview.  

Tiafoe set up a fourth round match against Grigor Dimitrov, who beat the other Italian player Thomas Fabbiano 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-4.

“It should be good. We are good friends. He is going to come out obviously just competing like crazy. So I am. It’s a big match to get to the final eight. Obviously he made the final eight last year, so he wants to get back there, start the year off well, get back to where he deserves to be, which is top five, in my opinion. I am not going to be an easy out for him”.

Dimitrov got the first break of the match in the sixth game, but Fabbiano broke straight back in the next game. In the tie-break both players traded mini-breaks. Dimitrov got another mini-break at 6-5 to seal the first set.

Dimitrov earned an immediate break in the first game of the second set. Fabbiano broke back in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3, but Dimitrov broke for the second time in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead and held his next service games to close out the second set 6-4.

The third set went on serve until the seventh game, when Dimitrov earned the only break at 30. The Bulgarian player never looked back to seal the match in straight sets.

“It was a great day. I am happy. I knew I am going to play at the time that I am supposed to play. It’s so nice to have the roof. That’s the number one thing. It was overall a great match. Conditions were pretty good to play tennis. I was just trying to lock myself in and just play a good match. I didn’t try to force anything. I just kind of let the games roll by a little bit more. I was serving well, moving well. All those things were a plus for me. I have less pressure than last year. It’s great. You just got to beat an opponent at a time. It doesn’t matter on what stage you are, what round you are. For me, this is a great way to start the tournament. I have already a few wins under the belt. Keep on going the same way”, said Dimitrov in the post match press conference.

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