Prime-seeded Frances Tiafoe superior to the quarterfinals of the Dallas Open with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over 19-year-old fellow American Alex Michelsen on Thursday evening.
Tiafoe gave himself three match factors with a backspinning drop volley that landed so near the online, it bounced again over to his aspect. Michelsen had already given up pursuit when the ball bounced.
The 26-year-old Tiafoe closed out his first match of the match on his first match level when Michelsen put a forehand into the online for Tiafoe’s fifth service break.
Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka withdrew from the late match, placing France’s Adrian Mannarino within the quarterfinals with out having performed a match.
The opposite round-of-16 winners have been No. 7 seed Jordan Thompson of Australia, 6-1, 6-1 over American Denis Kudla, and eighth-seeded German Dominik Koepfer, 6-4, 7-6 (5) over Rinky Hijikata of Australia.
Michelsen, who has risen into the highest 100 over the previous yr, had the primary break for a 3-2 lead within the first set however instantly gave it again on Tiafoe’s second break level within the subsequent sport with one among his 4 double faults.
After getting one other break for a 5-4 lead, Tiafoe misplaced the primary two factors whereas serving for the primary set. He gained the following 4, getting his first set level with a cross-court winner on an tried drop shot from Michelsen, who then put a backhand into the online.
After an extended alternate of sliced backhands and forehands within the second set, Michelsen introduced Tiafoe in with one other drop shot earlier than watching a lob go over his head.
Tiafoe gained 71% of the factors when he got here to the online to 35% for Michelsen.
“As soon as he broke me, I actually needed to up my degree,” Tiafoe mentioned. “I wished to sort of be the aggressor. From there, I performed rather well, I assumed. Numerous creativity, and I bought somewhat fortunate at instances.”
The 14th-ranked Tiafoe, who misplaced within the second spherical of the Australian Open after reaching the U.S. Open quarterfinals final summer season, will play American Marcos Giron within the quarters.
The highest three seeds within the Dallas occasion are Individuals. No. 2 seed Tommy Paul faces Koepfer within the quarterfinals, and third-seeded Ben Shelton will play Thompson.