He beat Elias Ymer in the opening match on Thursday night 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2).
“I definitely didn’t deserve to win today,” he said post-match.
“Elias was playing really well in the beginning. I was really flat, really negative—it’s been a long year and it’s been tough, so I was really tired out there.”
“Big growth win for me to come back and win. He got a little nervous and I started upping my level, and he still played well in the third, but I was able to get it done.”
The American won five games in a row to lead in the second set. In the third set, Tiafoe took the set in a tie-break again.
Tiafoe has won 15 of his last 17 tiebreaks. The only two he has lost came in the Tokyo final against Taylor Fritz.
“Elias is a hell of a player. He just needs to believe in himself. He strikes the ball as good as anyone, and he moves so fast,” Tiafoe said of his opponent.
“I think the only reason I won is because he didn’t believe it in the end.”
This win is also momentous for the American as it is his 100th Tour-Level win on a hard court. He is the sixth active American man who has reached the milestone. Other players who have done the same include John Isner, Jack Sock, Steve Johnson, Donald Young, and Taylor Fritz.