Tiafoe Prolongs Title Quest Through Remarkable Comeback in US Open First Round Frances Tiafoe’s U.S. Open run narrowly escaped elimination after a dramatic battle against fellow American Martin Damm. With only one of the two contenders capable of ending the 23‑year men’s Grand Slam drought, Tiafoe fought back from a 2‑1 slip to capture his sixth consecutive win, documenting a final scoreline of 6‑4, 4‑6, 3‑6, 6‑3, 6‑4. Frances Tiafoe of the United States, left, embraces Martin Damm of the United States after Tiafoe won their match during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II Frances Tiafoe, right, embraces Martin Damm after Tiafoe won their match during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II Tiafoe dominated the opening set, anchoring a strong serve that limited Damm’s ability to create counterplay. By mid‑match, he had reduced the deficit to one set, setting the stage for a grueling contest that tested both athletes’ endurance. Damm counter‑attacked with fury, unleashing a barrage of aces that equalized the set and forced Tiafoe into difficult breakdown situations. The tipping point arrived in the final games of the third set, where Tiafoe doubled fault four times under immense pressure before managing to clinch a four‑break‑point victory. Even at deuce for the seventh time, Damm required four set points to overcome his adversary before conceding the set at 2‑1, underscoring the tightness of the contest. Led by the crowd’s enthusiastic support, Tiafoe surged forward in the concluding tiebreaker. He converted key moments across the stretch, neutralizing pressure points and establishing a dominant 6‑3, 6‑4 outcome. Moving forward, the American will now advance to the second round, facing seasoned Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto in what promises to be a challenging yet highly anticipated clash.