Pair of Americans end 22-year wait at French Open

Additionally, this year's French Open marks the first time in 29 years that two Americans will compete in the final eight at the clay-court major. Jim Courier and Pete Sampras were the last pair of Americans to reach the quarterfinals during the 1996 edition of the Paris slam. 

However, unlike Courier and Sampras, Tiafoe and Paul won't be going head to head in the quarters. While Tiafoe will face World No. 8 Lorenzo Musetti for a berth in the semifinals, Paul will have to dethrone reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz to reach the final four.

Tiafoe is in red-hot form, having dispatched his first four opponents in straight sets — the first American to do so at the French Open since Agassi in 1995. While the 27-year-old enters the match against Musetti as the underdog, recent history favors the American. He defeated the Italian in their last two encounters at Cincinnati and Stuttgart and holds a 3-2 career head-to-head advantage over the World No. 8.

As for Paul, he lost to Alcaraz in the QF of the Paris Olympics at the same venue a year ago. He has never defeated the Spaniard on clay, with both of his wins coming on hard courts several years ago.

Even if the duo falls in the next round, it's a positive step for American men's tennis to regain relevancy at Roland Garros. To put things in perspective,  neither Tiafoe (born 1998) nor Paul (born 1997) was alive when two Americans last played in the second week at Roland Garros.