Alexei Popyrin’s US Open run comes to an end with deflating loss to Frances Tiafoe

  • Australian falls to friend and hitting partner 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-3
  • American Tiafoe to face Grigor Dimitrov in quarter-finals

Alexei Popyrin crashed back to earth and out of the US Open with a deflating fourth-round loss to American showman Frances Tiafoe. Australia’s shooting star was unable to back up his third-round win over the great Novak Djokovic, succumbing 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-3 to his friend and foe Tiafoe on Sunday night in New York.

Leaving Alex de Minaur and Jordan Thompson to fly the flag in the men’s singles, Popyrin will rue a huge opportunity lost. The 25-year-old entered the most significant match of his life having claimed six top-20 scalps in his previous eight outings, with none bigger than that of 24-times major winner and defending champion Djokovic.

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Chase Briscoe holds off Kyle Busch in Southern 500 to advance to NASCAR Cup playoffs

Chase Briscoe went three-wide to pass Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain for the lead, then outran two-time series champion Kyle Busch to win the Southern 500 on Sunday night and make the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Briscoe pulled away on a final restart with 17 laps in the regular-season finale at Darlington Raceway and held off Busch, who like Briscoe needed a victory to reach the postseason.