Long time coming: Tommy Paul is first US man in French Open quarters since Andre Agassi in 2003

Tommy Paul of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Australia's Alexei Popyrin during their men's singles match on Day 8 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Suzanne-Lenglen at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris, Sunday. AFP-Yonhap

PARIS — Tommy Paul became the first American man in the French Open quarterfinals since Andre Agassi in 2003, beating 25th-seeded Alexei Popyrin of Australia 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in less than two hours Sunday.

The 28-year-old Paul, who is seeded 12th at Roland-Garros, was coming off consecutive five-set victories but breezed to this victory, helped by saving 9 of 10 break points he faced while coverting all but one of the six he accumulated.

Both Paul and Popyrin won junior singles titles on the red clay in Paris, with the American's coming a decade ago.

Paul, who was a semifinalist at the Australian Open in 2023 on hard courts and a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon last year on grass courts, is now the only active U.S. man to reach the final eight at Grand Slam tournaments on three surfaces.

Andre Agassi competes at Centre Court at Wimbledon, June 27, 2000. The U.S. tennis legend is one of three men to complete a Career Golden Slam (all four majors and an Olympic gold) and swept eight majors during a brilliant career that ended in 2006. There have been very few U.S. players to win the French, except for Agassi in 1999, Jim Courier in 1991-92 and Michael Chang, the youngest French Open winner in the history of the tourmment, in 1989. AP-Yonhap

There haven't been multiple U.S. men in the French Open quarterfinals since 1996 , when Jim Courier and Pete Sampras both made it that far. Agassi was the last from the country in the men's semifinals at the French Open when he won the championship in 1999 to complete a career Grand Slam.

Later Sunday, No. 13 Ben Shelton and No. 15 Frances Tiafoe played their fourth-round matches with a chance to join Paul in the quarterfinals. Shelton's opponent was defending champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, while Tiafoe faced Daniel Altmaier of Germany.

Five American women reached the fourth round this year, with No. 16 Amanda Anisimova taking on No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Sunday. Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys and Hailey Baptiste are scheduled to play for quarterfinal berths on Monday. (AP)