The Five-Year Engagement: Nick Kyrgios, Frances Tiafoe to meet for first time at Citi Open

HIGHLIGHTS: Kyrgios defeats Opelka

After inclement weather suspended play last night in Washington, D.C., the bulk of players left in the Citi Open draws came into Friday knowing double duty was the name of the game. Led by hometown hero Frances Tiafoe, a trio of U.S. men moved through to the quarterfinals before Mother Nature stepped in again.

Having split sets with No. 8 seed Botic van de Zandschulp on Thursday, the 10th-seeded Tiafoe returned to complete a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 comeback. Tiafoe applied plenty of pressure Friday, converting two of nine break points as Van de Zandschulp tossed in seven double faults (to go with five aces) in losing the decisive set.

Kyrgios later lined up the intriguing final-eight showdown when he also wrapped up a contest that began the day prior. The 2019 champion eased past Reilly Opelka, 7-6 (1), 6-2, taking 37 of 42 first-serve points. It marked his first win in three clashes with Opelka, avenging April’s Houston semifinal loss.

“An exciting match tonight against Frances Tiafoe. We’ve never played before. We’ve been talking about it for probably the last five years,” Kyrgios told TennisTV. “I’m excited, it’s his hometown. I’m sure he’s gonna want to put on a show.”

Sebastian Korda and wild card J.J. Wolf each ousted seeds to maintain their title hopes. Korda turned the tables against No. 5 seed Grigor Dimitrov for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory. With it, Korda has strung together three consecutive wins for the first time since reaching the Estoril Open semifinals in late April.

Wolf celebrated his first trip to an ATP quarterfinal by edging ninth-seeded Holger Rune, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. The 23-year-old is ranked a career-high No. 99 this week and will climb inside the Top 85 with his efforts so far. A victory over top seed Andrey Rublev would see Wolf break the Top 70 with plenty of interest.

Rublev eliminated Maxime Cressy, 6-4, 7-6 (8), as the world No. 8 seeks his fourth trophy of the season. Five of his 11 career titles have come on the ATP 500 stage.

On the women’s side, Victoria Azarenka rounded out the quarterfinalists. Azarenka saved a set point, then pulled away from Tereza Martincova, 7-6 (7), 6-2. The No. 4 seed faces lucky loser Wang Xiyu in phase two of her doubleheader.

Sixth seed Kaia Kanepi overcame Anna Kalinskaya, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3, in two hours and 33 minutes to become the first woman through to the semifinals. Daria Saville led Rebecca Marino, 6-1, 3-0, when rain forced play to halt – lightning later hit the area for the second day running.

Second seed Emma Raducanu and Liudmila Samsonova are also due to battle when action resumes.