Frances Tiafoe advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open after overcoming a challenging five-set match against fellow American Martin Damm Jr. on Tuesday in New York. Tiafoe secured a 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory, rallying from a set down to extend his run at the Grand Slam tournament.

The all-American clash featured tightly contested play, with both players showing strong service games. Tiafoe started the match strongly, holding serve effectively in the opening set and limiting opportunities for Damm, a Florida native known for his powerful serve. However, Damm responded by delivering seven aces in the second set to even the match.

The third set proved to be a critical moment, as Tiafoe struggled with consistency on his serve, committing four double faults in that set and a total of six throughout the match. Despite multiple break point opportunities, Tiafoe was unable to capitalize, allowing Damm to close out the set 6-3 after an extended game that featured seven deuce points and several set points on both sides.

With the crowd firmly behind him, Tiafoe found renewed resolve in the fourth and fifth sets. He improved his return game and managed to convert three of the nine break chances he earned, allowing him to regain control and ultimately clinch the match. The victory prevented what would have been Tiafoe’s earliest exit at Flushing Meadows since 2017.

Tiafoe acknowledged the difficulty of the match during his post-match on-court interview, highlighting Damm’s strong serve and the intensity of the competition. “It was a crazy match. He had such a good serve. ... In the last two sets, I just wanted to be tough,” Tiafoe said. “I’ve won matches this year that I shouldn’t have.”

The win marks another step for Tiafoe in his attempt to become the first American male to win a Grand Slam title since 2003, as he will next face Japan’s Rei Sakamoto in the tournament’s second round. Despite never having advanced beyond the semifinals at the U.S. Open, Tiafoe’s resilience on Tuesday suggests he remains a formidable contender at this year’s event.