The fifth-seeded Anderson was the overwhelming favourite to advance to the third round in Melbourne, however, Tiafoe, was able to hold his nerve for the biggest win of his career.

Anderson won the first set, however, Tiafoe, won the next three for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and 7-5 win.

The player who turns 21 on Sunday conceded that he thought that he might lose to Anderson for a fourth time after going down in the first set.

“It means the world to me,” Tiafoe said. “I lost to Kevin three times last year, and down a set and a break it looked like he was going to get it for the fourth time. But I just went to a different place – I dug insanely deep.

“It’s all about competing. These guys are insanely good. It’s how bad do you really want it, and I want it real bad.”

He added that this has to count as one of the biggest wins of his career.

“Probably, yeah. I mean, considering the circumstance, obviously in a Grand Slam. Yeah, still my biggest win is probably Juan Martin Del Potro in Delray, because him being my idol.

“I've never felt something like that after winning a tennis match. The fact that it was a Grand Slam, second seed I beat, obviously a top-five player, it's pretty big.”

Tiafoe will face Italy’s Andreas Seppi in the third round.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport