Roland Garros 2025: Paul, Tiafoe make U.S. history by reaching men's singles QFs

Paul has now been a quarterfinalist at every major but the US Open, where he reached the fourth round the past two years. He is the ninth American man in the Open era and the only active American to reach a major quarterfinal on clay, grass and hard courts, joining Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, Jimmy Connors, Jim Courier, Vitas Gerulaitis, Brian Gottfried, John McEnroe and Pete Sampras on that list.

The 28-year-old followed five-set wins against Marton Fucsovics and Karen Khachanov with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 result against 25th seed Alexei Popyrin on Sunday, in which he saved nine of 10 break points. He will face reigning champion and world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday as he bids to reach his second major semifinal, after the 2023 Australian Open.

"I'm enjoying it a lot," Paul said of his clay-court run. "It was nice to get a straight-sets win today, give the body a little rest. As much as I love the five-setters, I definitely like the three-setters a little bit better. I am just excited for more matches."

The 15th seed is the first American to reach the Roland Garros quarters without losing a set since Andre Agassi in 1995. His four wins this fortnight equal his win total in nine previous main-draw appearances at the clay-court major.

"I feel I'm playing great," Tiafoe said after his fourth-round win, in which he won 30 of 37 net points. "I feel in a great place. I'm just happy being out there. I'm loving the competing and playing super aggressive. Making the game simple. Just give them what the game gives me and try to play the right way, the way I know how, at my best, and living and dying with the results. It's going my way right now."

Tiafoe will next meet Lorenzo Musetti on Tuesday. If both Tiafoe and Paul advance, they will meet in the semifinals, guaranteeing an American finalist. Both are within three victories of becoming the first American Roland Garros men's singles champion since Agassi in 1999.