Tiafoe beats 'annoying' Mannarino, Paul inspired by young fan at US Open

NEW YORK : American Frances Tiafoe overcame crafty veteran Adrian Mannarino 4-6 6-2 6-3 7-6(6) in front of a raucous crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Friday to reach the U.S. Open fourth round.

Tiafoe managed to convert just five of 15 break points and said the 35-year-old Frenchman's unpredictable style gave him fits in the nearly three-hour affair.

"He's so annoying to play," Tiafoe said to laughs during an on-court interview. "He's just bunting the ball around, it's so slow. You look at him and you're like, man, what's he doing?

"But it's so effective, the ball stays so low. He makes you create, he makes you feel like you want to overplay. He defends really well ... I'm happy the match is over and I won."

Tiafoe, who electrified the tournament with his run to the semi-finals last year, shrugged off his lacklustre results during the summer hard court swing leading up to the major.

"The summer is irrelevant, it's all about this tournament," said the 10th seed.

"I've always watched this tournament as a kid, I've always wanted to be out here and compete on the biggest stages and here is our biggest stadium," he said.

Last year Tiafoe became the first Black American man to reach the semis at Flushing Meadows since Arthur Ashe in 1972 and said he is determined to leave his mark on the game too.

"There's so much history here, Arthur Ashe Stadium, what a legend," he said. "I just want my name in the same sentence as his. I think that's why I play some of my best tennis here."

Tiafoe could be on a quarter-final collision course with compatriot Tommy Paul after the 14th seed overcame a third set hiccup to dispatch Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1 6-0 3-6 6-3 and reach the fourth round for his first time.

YOUNG SUPERFAN

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