On a day where every match on Arthur Ashe Stadium went the distance, Frances Tiafoe upset Andrey Rublev in a five-set thriller, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-1, to complete the fifth-latest finish on record at the US Open.
Tiafoe ripped an ace on match point—his 23rd of the match—to seal the victory over the No. 5-seeded Russian at 2:14 a.m.
LATEST FINISHES IN US OPEN HISTORY
2:26: September 4, 1993 (last match: Wilander d. Pernfors)
2:26: September 2, 2012 (last match: Kohlschreiber d. Isner)
2:26: September 1, 2014 (last match: Nishikori d. Raonic)
2:22: September 1, 2018 (last match: Cilic d. De Minaur)
2:14: September 3, 2021 (last match: Tiafoe d. Rublev)
2:14: September 3, 2002 (last match: El Aynaoui d. Ferreira)
Play began on Arthur Ashe Stadium at noon on Friday. Garbine Muguruza kicked things off with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win over Victoria Azarenka (2:15), followed by Carlos Alcaraz taking out Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 0-6, 7-6 (5) (4:07); and then Leylah Fernandez stunning Naomi Osaka, 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-4 (2:04).
Tiafoe and Rublev’s match was last on and lasted 3:45.
The American claimed his sixth career Top 10 win against the No. 7-ranked Rublev, and third at a Grand Slam, following previous wins over No. 6 Kevin Anderson at the 2019 Australian Open and No. 4 Tsitsipas at Wimbledon this year.