2021 US Open Round of 16 – Frances Tiafoe vs Felix Auger-Aliassime Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Frances Tiafoe vs Felix Auger-Aliassime taking place? Frances Tiafoe vs Felix Auger-Aliassime will take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, USA
When is Frances Tiafoe vs Felix Auger-Aliassime on and what time does it start? Monday 6th September, 2021 – not before 00:00 (UK)
What surface is Frances Tiafoe vs Felix Auger-Aliassime being played on? Frances Tiafoe vs Felix Auger-Aliassime will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Frances Tiafoe vs Felix Auger-Aliassime? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Frances Tiafoe vs Felix Auger-Aliassime
What channel is Frances Tiafoe vs Felix Auger-Aliassime on in the UK? Amazon have exclusive rights to show the 2021 US Open in the UK so it is worth checking the Amazon Prime Video app on smart TVs for Frances Tiafoe vs Felix Auger-Aliassime
Where can I stream Frances Tiafoe vs Felix Auger-Aliassime in the UK? Amazon Prime subscribers may be able to stream Frances Tiafoe vs Felix Auger-Aliassime live via their platform
THE LOWDOWN
23-year-old Frances Tiafoe tends to know when his best performances are coming. The American claimed to know ahead of his straight-sets victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round of Wimbledon that he would be victorious and he stated at the announcement of the US Open draw that he wanted Andrey Rublev in the third round. Likelier than Tiafoe possessing psychic powers is that the world number 50 feeds off the big occasions more than most, or simply cannot turn these kinds of performances on for the ATP 250s and Tuesday afternoon matches. Tiafoe was emphatic over five sets against in-form world number seven Rublev and he is one win away from matching his best Grand Slam finish, having reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in 2019.
World number 15 Felix Auger-Aliassime reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time just this year with a superb run at Wimbledon. The Canadian beat Alexander Zverev in five sets at SW19 to make the last eight there and he put in a similar performance in the third round on Friday here to beat Roberto Bautista Agut. The 21-year-old has famously reached finished runner-up in eight ATP tour finals already which could suggest a need for greater grit in key moments but there is no doubt he will be inside the world’s top 10 sooner rather than later.
THE PREDICTION
This will be such a joyous blockbuster on, probably, Arthur Ashe between world number 50 Frances Tiafoe playing at his top 20 potential and world number 15 Felix Auger-Aliassime. 21-year-old Auger-Aliassime has the right mentality to cope with playing against a crowd who will be in full voice for 23-year-old Tiafoe’s showmanship and there looks like sets in this battle for both players. What a stage and occasion for a first meeting between two players likely to spend the next decade near the top of the game! USA versus Canada has rarely been a fixture of level ability in tennis but the conditions are perfect for another five-set classic here. Take both players to win a set and leave the winner up to chance.
