Frances Tiafoe wins first match at Stockholm Open

Tiafoe wowed many with his good performances throughout 2021 becoming a fan favorite during his Erste Bank Open run in Vienna. The American is finally healthy and putting forward strong performances in line with his tremendous tennis. His appetite for showmanship during matches also makes him a fun watch every time he steps onto the courts.

It was because of that and the fact that he was facing a native Swede in Stockholm that saw the stands full during his 1st round match against Ymer. From the start, it was clear that Tiafoe was the better player overall as he broke Ymer early for a 2-0 lead. After that, the American mostly relied on his powerful serve to see him past Ymer.

He finished off the first set with 6-4. A lot of excitement was seen at the start of the 2nd set when the players traded break points. Eventually, Ymer took the 3-1 lead after some inspiring play to the delight of the native crowd. Showing mental poise once more, Tiafoe was able to come back and make it 3-3. He faced a bit of an issue after that as well with his serve not functioning properly.

He was able to hold on and force a tiebreak where he dominated his opponent with some stellar tennis play. He closed it out with 7-2 to move on where he might face big-serving Ruusuvuori from Finland. A great start for Tiafoe who is looking to end the year on a high note.