Frances Tiafoe secured a hard-fought victory over fellow American Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round of the U.S. Open, winning 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. Seeded 20th, Tiafoe remained composed under pressure, aiming to fulfill his ambition of winning his home Grand Slam after his remarkable run to the semi-finals two years ago.

Kovacevic, making his U.S. Open debut as a New York native, started strong but faltered under the pressure, especially during key moments. Tiafoe capitalized on Kovacevic's nerves, particularly in the first set, and maintained control through the second set. Kovacevic rallied in the third, hitting an impressive around-the-net forehand winner and breaking Tiafoe's serve twice to force a fourth set.

However, Tiafoe's resilience shone through in the fourth set, where he broke Kovacevic for a 6-5 lead and eventually sealed the match on his fifth match point. The match was played under challenging conditions, with thunderstorms leading to the closure of the roof on Louis Armstrong Stadium, creating muggy conditions that Tiafoe said affected his breathing during the third and much of the fourth set.

Tiafoe has had a challenging season but recently found his form, reaching the final of the Cincinnati Open and breaking back into the top 20. He expressed his desire to build on that momentum at the U.S. Open. Tiafoe will face Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan in the second round.