Frances Tiafoe wins roller-coaster match over Nishioka in Estoril

Frances Tiafoe fought his way to victory over the talented Yoshihito Nishioka in perhaps the best match of the clay court season so far.

Nishioka blitzed through the first set 6-2, and earned an early break in the second to go up 3-1. Then, out of nowhere, Tiafoe flipped the switch and reeled off seven consecutive games. Nishioka saved two match points in the third set to force a tiebreak. After two hours and thirty minutes, the American willed himself to the finish line.

Almost every point was an extended, physical rally; both players were locked in. This feels like a huge victory for Tiafoe, he may not have won this type of match a few years ago.

Tiafoe will face off against clay-court extraordinaire, Pablo Cuevas, tomorrow in the quarterfinal.