Terrific Tiafoe ends run of Hijikata, delights home crowd to reach US Open Quarter-Finals

America’s Frances Tiafoe secured his place in the quarterfinal of the US Open 2023 with a dominating display.

The 25-year-old defeated Australia’s Rinky Hijikata in the round of 16 clash in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday.

The world number 10 produced 15 aces in the match which proved to be the difference in the end as his opponent could produce a single ace.

In the first set, Tiafoe committed just nine unforced errors, seven fewer than Hijikata. He also won 100 percent points on first serve.

In the second set, the Maryland-born produced nine winners, six more than his opponent. He also won 80 percent service points.

Hijikata did show some fight in the third set but it was not enough as Tiafoe ended up winning 58 percent service points.

The result put Tiafoe just one win away from equaling his best record at the US Open. He played the semifinal of the mega-event in 2022 but ended on the losing side against to the world number one Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz with a score of 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-7, 6-3.

He will face fellow American Ben Shelton in the last-eight fixture at the mega-event on Tuesday.