THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 28, 2021

Frances Tiafoe

Press Conference

F. TIAFOE/S. Tsitsipas

6-4, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. The tennis was entertaining, good to see. You seemed to have it in your mind you were going to win the match from the moment you walked on court. What were you listening to, got you in the right frame of mind?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I listen to a ton of different things. Once I saw the draw coming out, yeah, I mean, look, these are matches I actually love. I think a lot of guys in the tennis community know that. I play great tennis against high-caliber players. I've beaten high-caliber players. The minimum I want to do is at least give myself a chance to win. I did.

I woke up this morning like, Yeah, I'm beating Stefanos. It happened. I think believing it when nobody else does is so big.

Q. Was there a motivational track you were listening to coming on court?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Steve Angello, the song called "Rejoice." It's pretty big. T.D. Jakes is in it as well. It's a big one.

Q. How would you describe who you are as a tennis player right now and the road to where you are today?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Tough question.

As far as style? As far as what I bring to the game?

Q. Both your style and the path that you've taken to be at the level you are today.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Start with the path. I mean, I think I've had a very interesting path. Shoot, every kind of story for sure. Yeah, I mean, I overcame a lot of things. I was a kid that obviously didn't come from much. I set out a goal from a super young age using the game of tennis to be able to put myself and my family in positions to live the way I personally think we deserve, with all the hard work they put in, and so did I.

To be in financially better situations, living better situations, so they worked so hard. They overcame so much. I thought it was kind of a trickle-down effect on me. I used the game of tennis.

Obviously I love the game.

As far as my style of game, at the end of the day, man, you know, it's not I have to, it's I get to. I get to compete against a guy 3, 4 in the world, whatever he is, plays Court 1 Wimbledon. These are honors. These aren't chores.

I try to have as much fun as I can out there, put smiles on guys' faces. Obviously try to compete my ass off.

At the end of the day, when I'm done with the game, I want people to say it was great entertainment to watch Frances Tiafoe. He's a great guy first and a tennis player second.

Q. That's the first time I believe that you've beaten a top-five player. What can that do for your career? With your celebration right at the end, one of the things you seem to do is almost like eat from a bowl. Can you explain what your celebration was exactly and what it meant?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I mean, first I think a slam -- is that the first top-five player I beat? Was Kevin Anderson top five in Australia when I beat him in 2019? Anyway.

But it is like eating from a bowl kind of. It's more so the more matches you win, the better you do, the better the meal is. It's like, you know, I'm out here trying to eat. Steak dinners aren't going to pay for themselves, nice dinners aren't going to pay for themselves. You got to perform and you got to win. That's kind of the story behind it.

Q. Could you remind us when you first played on a grass court, what age, where that was, then connect the dots to today. You seemed absolutely comfortable and confident, freely hitting, not doubting your movement. How is it that you've made this your surface as needed?

FRANCES TIAFOE: First time I played on a grass court, I was super young. It was at an Embassy out in D.C. They have a grass court. I was slipping and sliding and shit. I was 14. That was fun.

It just helps my game. It forces me to play the right way. It forces me to play super aggressive. It forces me to be off my front foot on both sides, it forces me to come to the net, because otherwise you're vulnerable. I seen guys that like to play with so much time and like to play further behind the baseline, can get exposed. If you're not -- you know, intangibles around the net, if you're not off to a good feel, you can also get exposed.

I think these are things I'm good at. I don't do it all the time. Do I know why? No. I think these are the kind of things I can use on all the surfaces. Obviously it's a little tougher on the other surfaces because the ball bounces a little higher, it's easier to pass and stuff like that.

With moderation, I feel like I need to keep adding these things to my game, keep progressing, keep doing these things. It worked out today.

Q. I have a left field question. Forgive me for it. I was talking to MaliVai Washington recently. He was talking about how in the early days when he was one of the very few black guys on tour, he always felt that everyone who was on-site who was black would come watch his matches and support him. He appreciated that but also felt some pressure. Could you speak to if you feel you're representing a greater community out there, how that works for you?

FRANCES TIAFOE: That was a tough question for you to get out literally (laughter).

I totally know where Mali is coming from. Obviously, I mean, it's not easy, right? But hindsight, he did some exceptional things, making Wimbledon final and stuff like that. If you do overcome that, you do do some great things, it's only going to create more guys playing the game. Obviously because of him, then you have James Blake, you have other players.

Yeah, I mean, hopefully I can overcome it. I mean, I personally just got to do the best that I can. It's a tough game. We're in a tough era. Whatever nationality, you still got Roger, Novak, and Rafa. It doesn't really matter. So whatever you try to represent, it's tough to get past those guys.

But so, I mean, pressure? I feel like I've already overcame pressure, man. I played on Court 1 today. If you told me when I was 10 years old I'd be playing on Court 1, beat No. 4 in the world. I've been able to play Roger, Rafa, Novak on big stadiums. I mean, those are the moments you appreciate. I've came such a long way.

Pressure was turning pro, being able to provide for my family. I'm able to do that. I think perspective is everything. But there's a long way I want to go. I've handled my real pressures. Everything else is kind of between the lines.

Q. Is that Arthur Ashe wearing a fur coat on your shirt?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah. You like that?

Q. Sloane had a big win today, too, against Kvitova. She was saying she learned over the course of her career not to get too into panicking during the downs of her career, knowing that things will come, trusting herself, that things can change fast. Every tennis player has good streaks, bad streaks. How have you learned to ride the waves, navigate, and trust the process?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, so funny. Me and Sloane were actually messaging, literally about that. I was so hyped for her. I'm a guy, I don't know if you guys follow my social, but I'm a guy who always if someone is doing well, I always show the love. Seeing her do so well in Paris, I loved it. She hasn't done something like that in a while.

Herself and then people forget, this girl won a slam, made finals of another one, won a Masters Series. She's one of the best girls on tour arguably when she's fully there. There's no gimmick. This is a fact.

You start doubting yourself. It's amazing how you win a couple matches, everything is all forgotten.

I think ultimately it's understanding that it's not always peaches and cream, man. Everyone is going through certain struggles. You don't even know what these guys are going through maybe personally, whatever the case may be.

It's not easy to always be playing at your top level. It's just managing the highs and lows, but always understanding that you're a baller, you're capable. She's so capable.

I saw her today right before, she was coming up, I was going to practice. I was just like, Sloane, I back you to win today. I'm not even worried about it.

She's cracking up laughing. She's like, You better do the same thing.

I was like, hey, don't worry about it.

We're great friends. First thing I came off, seeing if she won. That made me even happier. I'm happy for both of us.

Same thing for me. 2019 my highest ranking, I was playing great, going on deep runs. Trying to get back there, then more so. Everyone as their own struggles. It's all about managing it.

Q. Looking ahead for a moment to your second-round matchup. It's happening now between one of the Canadians, Vasek Pospisil is still playing Roberto Carballes Baena. Pospisil is a former Wimbledon doubles champion, has made quarterfinals here. If that is the matchup, what do you make of that, the way he plays on grass, maybe how you could counterattack that given you look comfortable on the surface?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Vasek, he's a problem. Vasek is good, man. He's very capable. He can serve well. He has a good forehand, he volleys well. Yeah, I was saying yesterday, I didn't even know we were potentially playing. I saw Stefanos. He's not a guy where I'm like, Oh, Stefanos, who do I play third round (laughter)?

He's damn good. I'm sure he's going to win. I like that matchup for him, the guy he's playing now. But yeah, I mean, I'll be excited playing him. When I was real young, he snipped me bad in the challengers. If I do play him, I'm going to definitely want to beat him.

It will be a good match. I have to come up with some goods. He's going to make me come up with some good stuff if we end up playing.

I'd like to play him. We're good friends. That will be a good one.

Q. In the first set when you were up 4-3, you went up 30-15 with a sensational over-the-shoulder shot. What do you remember most about that point, if you do? What does it mean to you to play highlight tennis as well as winning tennis?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I had a lot of that today, man. Things just going my way.

I'm like, Man, I'm running back. I was like, If I lob it up, I'm probably going to hit the ceiling with the roof. If you miss it, it's 15-30. Screw it. See what happens. Nailed it. Went in.

Actually, when I turned back, I was like, Damn, I overcooked it. Thought it was going to go a little bit long. Hit the line. I got the crowd into it again. Bombed the serve.

I felt like the crowd was with me, as well. Uplifting me. Giving me a ton of confidence. Then you can argue with your eyes closed at some points. I wouldn't say all those shots are in the package.