Sawt Falasteen - 'Sky's the limit' for Tiafoe at French Open

The American downed German world number 66 Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in the last 16 to set up a match with Lorenzo Musetti for a semi-final place.

It will be Tiafoe's first ATP quarter-final since finishing runner-up at a low-key event in Houston in March.

"It's been horrible. I've been travelling around, and it hasn't been fun at all," he said.

"Kind of faced it. After that it gave me space to just play. You know, when I can play, I can play. This is not really something that's like a shock.

"When I'm playing well, I'm there and present and having fun, I think the sky's the limit for me."

The 27-year-old, who has reached at least the quarters at the last three US Opens, is yet to drop a set in Paris and is confident he can go even further.

"I've been the super dark horse. I don't think anyone is really thinking that I was going to even be in this position," added Tiafoe.

"But at the same time, I don't really look at it like house money.

"Now that I'm here, I'm like, 'Let's win'. I was having dinner yesterday. I'm like, 'Yeah, feeling great, but let's keep winning'. There's nothing more fun than winning.

"Once I get my feet going and matches under me, I'm dangerous. Then I'm feeling really good, and I'll play anybody."

Tiafoe, seeded 15th at Roland Garros, has five wins over top-10 players at Grand Slam events.

"If you look at the guys in front of me, I'm much more comfortable playing the guys around me and ahead of me than the other guys," said Tiafoe, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament.

"I'm much more reliable, and week to week -- I don't lose to those guys week to week. I lose to everybody else.

"That's not really my concern, playing the best guys in the world. I don't fear them. I don't really feel like their level is so much better than mine."

D.AbuRida--SF-PST