South Africa’s Lloyd Harris gained revenge over Reilly Opelka Monday at the US Open as he continued his strong run at Flushing Meadows, overcoming the 22nd seed 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 to reach his maiden major quarter-final.
The 24-year-old, who was competing in the fourth round at a Slam for the first time, fell to Opelka in a final-set tie-break in the third round in Toronto. The big-serving American went on to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 final.
However, Harris fired 62 winners and won seven straight games as he rallied in New York, securing his victory after two hours and 31 minutes to level their ATP Head2Head Series at 1-1. The World No. 46 will face fourth seed Alexander Zverev in the last eight after the German moved past #NextGenATP Italian Jannik Sinner 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(7).
“I thought I played a really good first set, returning well,” Harris said in his on-court interview. “Throughout the match I served really well and after that first set not going my way, I stayed confident and what an unbelievable feeling this is. The support has been amazing.”
Harris, who is making his fourth main draw appearance at Flushing Meadows, upset Russia’s Karen Khachanov and earned his third Top 10 win of the season against World No. 10 Denis Shapovalov en route to the last 16.
Earlier this season, the South African enjoyed a run to the third round at the Australian Open, before reaching his second tour-level final in Dubai, where he shocked Dominic Thiem in the second round.
“It was difficult because he played a superb tie-break in the first set,” Harris added. “I had to keep my head up as I knew I was playing well and at least I managed to turn it around. I tried to make as many returns as possible, which is not easy when the serves are coming at 135 mph. I just had to mix up my return position and it seemed like it paid off.”
In a tight first set, in which both players were dominant on serve, Opelka raised his level in the big points with his powerful groundstrokes. The American fended off 86 per cent (6/7) of break points that he faced in the opener and saved a set point at 5/6 in the first-set tie-break, before capturing it with a heavy forehand.
Harris continued to stick with Opelka in the second set though as he fired 11 aces and found his rhythm on his groundstrokes, committing just seven unforced errors to level. Fuelled by momentum, the 24-year-old continued to get a grasp of Opelka’s serve as he moved close to the baseline on return to cut off the angles, breaking twice to race 5-0 ahead.
After holding serve to seal the set, Harris continued to come out on top in the lengthy exchanges in the fourth set. The South African won 100 per cent (14/14) of his first-serve points in the set to advance.
Opelka, who recorded the biggest win of his career by FedEx ATP Ranking against World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals in Toronto, was also making his first fourth-round appearance at a major. The American did not drop a set en route to the last 16, overcoming Soonwoo Kwon, Lorenzo Musetti and Nikoloz Basilashvili.
By joining countrymen Jenson Brooksby and Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round, it was the first time three American men had reached this stage at a major since the US Open in 2011.
The 24-year-old, who was competing in the fourth round at a Slam for the first time, fell to Opelka in a final-set tie-break in the third round in Toronto. The big-serving American went on to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 final.
However, Harris fired 62 winners and won seven straight games as he rallied in New York, securing his victory after two hours and 31 minutes to level their ATP Head2Head Series at 1-1. The World No. 46 will face fourth seed Alexander Zverev in the last eight after the German moved past #NextGenATP Italian Jannik Sinner 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(7).
“I thought I played a really good first set, returning well,” Harris said in his on-court interview. “Throughout the match I served really well and after that first set not going my way, I stayed confident and what an unbelievable feeling this is. The support has been amazing.”
Harris, who is making his fourth main draw appearance at Flushing Meadows, upset Russia’s Karen Khachanov and earned his third Top 10 win of the season against World No. 10 Denis Shapovalov en route to the last 16.
Earlier this season, the South African enjoyed a run to the third round at the Australian Open, before reaching his second tour-level final in Dubai, where he shocked Dominic Thiem in the second round.
“It was difficult because he played a superb tie-break in the first set,” Harris added. “I had to keep my head up as I knew I was playing well and at least I managed to turn it around. I tried to make as many returns as possible, which is not easy when the serves are coming at 135 mph. I just had to mix up my return position and it seemed like it paid off.”
In a tight first set, in which both players were dominant on serve, Opelka raised his level in the big points with his powerful groundstrokes. The American fended off 86 per cent (6/7) of break points that he faced in the opener and saved a set point at 5/6 in the first-set tie-break, before capturing it with a heavy forehand.
Harris continued to stick with Opelka in the second set though as he fired 11 aces and found his rhythm on his groundstrokes, committing just seven unforced errors to level. Fuelled by momentum, the 24-year-old continued to get a grasp of Opelka’s serve as he moved close to the baseline on return to cut off the angles, breaking twice to race 5-0 ahead.
After holding serve to seal the set, Harris continued to come out on top in the lengthy exchanges in the fourth set. The South African won 100 per cent (14/14) of his first-serve points in the set to advance.
Opelka, who recorded the biggest win of his career by FedEx ATP Ranking against World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals in Toronto, was also making his first fourth-round appearance at a major. The American did not drop a set en route to the last 16, overcoming Soonwoo Kwon, Lorenzo Musetti and Nikoloz Basilashvili.
By joining countrymen Jenson Brooksby and Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round, it was the first time three American men had reached this stage at a major since the US Open in 2011.