"I think he does": Former world number highlights importance of Frances Tiafoe's decision to skip Paris Olympics ahead of US Open quarterfinal

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.