Former world number three Pam Shivers believes that America’s
tennis star
Frances Tiafoe made a right call by not playing in the Paris
Olympics which gives him an opportunity to win the
US Open. The 26-year-old is
currently taking part in the fourth and the final Grand Slam of the year where
he has already booked his place in the quarterfinal.
He defeated Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in the round of 16
with a score of 6-4, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3. Shivers was recently quoted in a report
where she highlighted how important of a decision of a decision it was for Tiafoe
to skip the Paris Olympics. She was of the opinion that the Maryland-born star
was of the opinion that not taking part in that event gave him a realistic
opportunity to go all the way and lift his maiden Grand Slam in New York later
this month.
"I think he does [have it in him to win the tournament],”
she said. "I think the decision for Frances not to play the Olympics, obviously
Washington DC, which is where he grew up, was an important tour stop. Frances
getting on the hard courts, getting his teeth sunk into this segment of the
circuit is why he has a chance to win this US Open. From 2-1 down against
Shelton, we’ve seen the best of Frances, Plays Dimitrov next, plays the winner
of Fritz/Zverev. I think Tiafoe has learned so much from the semifinal run of
two years ago when he became even more of a star.”
Tiafoe is set to face Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in the
quarterfinal. The 33-year-old booked his place in the next round after beating
Russia’s Andrey Rublev in a five-set thriller with a score of 6-3, 7-6, 1-6,
3-6, 6-3. It is the third consecutive year where Tiafoe has managed to book his
place in the quarterfinal of the US Open.