Frances Tiafoe faced an early challenge at the U.S. Open, narrowly avoiding an upset bid from fellow American Martin Damm Jr. Tiafoe ultimately prevailed in a hard-fought five-set match, winning 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to advance.
The match marked a significant test for Tiafoe, who was attempting to continue his run in the tournament while also carrying the hopes of ending a 23-year Grand Slam title drought for American men. The encounter took place on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, in New York.
Tiafoe started strong, securing the first set with a solid service game that offered Damm few opportunities. Despite a demanding run to the Cincinnati Open final earlier in the month, where he experienced significant physical fatigue, Tiafoe appeared to be managing the physical demands of the U.S. Open.
However, Damm responded with a powerful performance, hitting seven aces to even the match at one set apiece. The momentum shifted further in the third set, which proved challenging for Tiafoe. He committed four double faults in the set alone, contributing to a total of six for the match. The final game of the third set was particularly grueling, with Tiafoe failing to convert on four break points and facing Damm's set point seven times before ultimately losing the set.
Damm secured the third set to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The crowd rallied behind Tiafoe as he increased his intensity in the final two sets. He managed to secure three of his nine break chances across the fourth and fifth sets, which proved crucial in his comeback.
"Tennis is tennis, and obviously it’s fitting to have it here in New York," Tiafoe said during his on-court interview. "It was a crazy match. He had such a good serve. … In the last two sets, I just wanted to be tough. … I’ve won matches this year that I shouldn’t have."
Tiafoe, who has previously reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open, is set to face Japan's Rei Sakamoto in the second round. This victory prevented what would have been his earliest exit from the tournament since 2017.
