When it rains, it pours. Until Sunday, it had been 22 years since an American man reached the second week at the French Open.
Tommy Paul was the first to break the dry spell, defeating Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, and advancing to the quarterfinals. Shortly after, Frances Tiafoe followed suit, securing a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 win over Belgium’s Daniel Altmaier to win his fourth-round match.
As a result, Paul and Tiafoe became the first American men to reach the quarterfinals at Roland Garros since Andre Agassi in 2003.