Tokyo, JAPAN – As a showman who loves nothing more than being out there on a big stage, it’s no surprise that Frances Tiafoe (USA) has produced some of his most pulsating and spectacular tennis at the US Open.
The Arthur Ashe Stadium, which can accommodate almost 24,000 excitable New Yorkers, is the biggest stage of all in tennis, and the American uses all the noise and energy from his home crowd to push himself to higher levels. With his run to the semi-finals of the 2024 US Open, Tiafoe equaled his best result at the Grand Slams, having also reached that round in 2022. It was an experience that he could potentially draw on in the future to propel himself even further in years to come – Tiafoe will believe that he has the game, along with the personality and stage presence, to potentially win that tournament one day.
Ruud electrifies Paris once again
Casper Ruud (NOR), with ambitions of becoming the first Norwegian to win a Grand Slam singles title, is reliably brilliant on the Roland-Garros clay. Having reached the final in Paris in 2022 and 2023, the head-to-toe Yonex ambassador made the semi-finals once again. Thoughts are already turning to 2025 and whether Ruud, with all the experience he had gained in recent years, could make history by lifting the trophy at Roland-Garros.
A first for Hurkacz – and Poland – in Australia
Hubert Hurkacz (POL) played some historic tennis on the hard courts of the Australian Open, with the head-to-toe Yonex ambassador becoming the first Polish man to reach the quarter-finals. That was the furthest Hurkacz, with his powerful game, had progressed at the majors since he played in the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2021.
Paul joins Wimbledon’s Last Eight Club
Reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and you earn lifetime membership of what is known as the Last Eight Club. Tommy Paul (USA) advanced to that stage for the first time this summer, for what was his best result at the majors since he was a semi-finalist at the 2023 Australian Open.
Teenager Oda adds to his Grand Slam collection
While still a teenager, Tokito Oda (JPN) already has four Grand Slam men’s wheelchair singles titles with the Yonex athlete winning the Australian Open and Roland-Garros in 2024. It was the second year in a row that the Japanese had been victorious on the Parisian clay.
