Frances Tiafoe digs deep in gutsy US Open win over Aleksandar Kovacevic

Frances Tiafoe faced a tough test in his U.S. Open first-round match.

But he rose to the challenge.

Against New York native Aleksandar Kovacevic, Tiafoe battled his way to a 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

“It got pretty tough there at the end,” Tiafoe admitted in a post-match TV interview. “When they closed the roof, it got really muggy there. I was really struggling breathing. In the middle of the fourth it got better.”

The roof was closed due to brief rains at Flushing Meadows, adding to the challenging conditions for Tiafoe as he faced a determined opponent in Kovacevic.

Making his U.S. Open debut, Kovacevic put up a strong fight on his home turf.

However, Tiafoe ultimately emerged victorious.

Ranked in the top 20, Tiafoe displayed composure throughout the match.

With his sights set on winning the U.S. Open, Tiafoe aims to become the first American since Andy Roddick to reach at least the quarterfinals in consecutive years.

This hard-fought victory marks the first step in his quest for a third straight quarterfinal appearance.

Tiafoe capitalized on opportunities, clinching the first set with an overhead winner in the 10th game, and securing the second set when Kovacevic made an error.

In the third set, Kovacevic showed his skill with impressive shots, but Tiafoe broke serve to take a crucial lead in the fourth set.

Despite facing multiple match points, Tiafoe finally closed out the match on his fifth attempt.

After the victory, Tiafoe’s reaction was more relief than celebration as he took a moment to catch his breath.

Despite ups and downs this year, Tiafoe’s recent success at the Cincinnati Open propelled him back into the top 20.

Next, he will face Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan in the second round of the U.S. Open.

Reflecting on his journey, Tiafoe expressed his hope for many more years in the sport: “I’ve been around for [awhile]. That 10 years goes really fast. Hope to be around another 10. I just remember a little kid with a lot of dreams.”

It was a commendable performance by Kovacevic, a son of immigrants.

With his mother from Bosnia and Herzegovina and his father from Serbia, Kovacevic grew up in New York City and honed his skills at various tennis facilities across the city.

From humble beginnings to competing at the U.S. Open, Kovacevic received a warm ovation from the crowd as a proud representation of his hometown.