THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 1, 2022

Frances Tiafoe

Press Conference

F. TIAFOE/A. Bublik

3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Your initial thoughts on today's match, if you could.

FRANCES TIAFOE: I'm super pumped, super pumped to be second week of Wimbledon, fourth round. A really tough match. Yeah, ready for another one.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. We know Wimbledon doesn't have ranking points this year. Has there potentially been any positive to come out of that in the sense that maybe there is no -- obviously there is pressure at a slam, it's Wimbledon -- but the rankings pressure to defend any points or build on your ranking at all in the tournament?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I mean, yeah, but there's always a bit of pressure. Obviously it's opportunity always, right, it's a slam. I think points or not, it's Wimbledon.

You know, obviously there is still big prize money ahead, opportunity. So, yeah, I mean, I think Wimbledon is bigger than all of us.

Q. On the slams more in general, you've now won at least one match at the last five slams. That's your best streak of winning opening rounds. Before Wimbledon you didn't have any wins on the grass. Are you sort of building a kind of slam confidence where once you get to a major you feel like you know what to do, best-of-five sets...

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, it definitely matter. You want to win.

But, yeah, I mean, I lost in two tough matches on the grass, Stan, I was serving for the match in Queen's, you lose. Bublik, I could have easily lost today, two tough tiebreak sets.

I mean, I wouldn't say bad losses. Grass court losses, at least. I know when I'm at my best I'm one of the better grass court players out here.

You know, I came to Wimbledon seeded, see what the draw looks like and just carry on.

Q. Following on from that, you played Bublik in Eastbourne. I imagine that was a frustrating loss. Curious what you took from that and what you brought from that to Wimbledon?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I didn't give the greatest effort in that final set. I knew it was going to be a little bit of a different match today. Third round at Wimbledon, we were both going to give it our all.

He's a tough player. He serves so big. On grass, not easy to return that. He's going to pull out some Kyrgios-esque at times, which he did at the end of the fourth. He can make it complicated for a lot of guys. When he wants to play, he's brutal to play.

Q. When did you realize that you liked grass?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I mean, I liked grass for a bit, even when I played juniors here. I've always liked playing -- I think my game suits well on grass. I've made third round here. Last year I had a cheeky win on Court 1. I don't think you guys remember that. I think I like the grass.

Q. What was your key to keeping concentration in the fourth set when he started getting more chaotic with the underarm serves and sort of semi-tanking at times?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I don't even know, man. I don't even know because I was fuming at one point. I was trying to keep it in.

I think just getting that hold at 4-All was just so big. Hitting that ace down breakpoint was massive. That gave me a chance. I can't remember what happened the next two points. Just giving myself a chance to have him 4-5 following me and then he blinked again. One bad game from him.

Q. Did you feel he was checked out at some point?

FRANCES TIAFOE: He wasn't checked out. He was just trying to get me off my game, which he did. No one is checked out when they're at Wimbledon. Yeah, send him to a fifth he's all right maybe. But they're at Wimbledon.

He was battling, running, still won it. He broke me at 4-2. He went big pump. He wanted it. What he was doing was working, but obviously not good enough.

Q. It was either last year at the US Open or the year before where I think you said there is no Federer, there is no Nadal here, guys in the locker room are just sort of thinking, why not me? Is there that same sensibility this year? Daniil is not here, obviously Roger is not here. That there is opportunities to be had in this draw.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I mean, even so -- yeah, I pretty much said that. But yeah, there's opportunities to be had. Guys are -- I mean, the game is shifting. I mean, even with those guys playing, guys are playing well. Guys are beating them. You see obviously what Alcaraz did or Fritz at Indian Wells.

So, you know, I mean, they are old -- they are unbelievable; they are old. But I think there is a great young crop coming. With them in the draw or not, I mean, they can lose. Very tough obviously but they can lose.

But, yeah, especially here this week there's a huge opportunity.

Q. I'd love to get your thoughts on the interesting decision by the ATP to allow coaching in some of the ATP matches coming up the rest of the season.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I was talking about that the other day. I'm half and half with it. Obviously you're going to miss that in sport. I think that's part of it, trying to figure it out on your own.

But, you know, at the same time, you know, coaches are there for a reason, so they can get into it and try and help you out out there. Especially with the fans I think, I mean, I think fan favorite like that, just like every other team sport, the coaching timeouts and what have you.

I mean, I'm in the middle with it. We'll see how it goes when it happens.

Q. Obviously you are one of eight Americans into the third round. I don't think any other country have more than two. You are leading the charge into the fourth round. What does that say about the state of U.S. men's tennis right now?

FRANCES TIAFOE: We are damn good (smiling). It is what it is. Playing great tennis. Tommy is close. He's playing great. About to get in the fourth round. Hopefully he finishes that match out.

Guys are just good. Most of us were seeded, most seeded in Paris too. We're playing great tennis. I think we always feed off each other. We all believe it, all believe we can be even doing better than what we are doing currently. One guy does well, next guy wants to step up. It's all good. I think we just gotta keep going.

Q. I wanted to step back for a minute. This has been a great press conference, a lot of good analysis, but you are such an emotional guy. That's why fans love you for your passion. It's no secret, it's been sort of an issue, your year has had some issues. Now you are on this great run, one good victory after another. I know you said you were pumped, but can you put into words your emotions and the thrill of just prevailing and what you were saying to yourself and your support team at that moment in time?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I'm definitely pumped, man. I mean, it's been all right year for me. Obviously expecting more. Especially how well I was playing end of last year. Injured early in the season. Australian Open I was pretty banged up.

Yeah, been on a pretty good stride, and hopefully I can carry this into the US Open Series. Yeah, I'm super pumped up. But again, I have been to fourth round slams, quarters of slams. I want more.

My perspective has definitely shifted a little bit rather than happy to be here, been there before which you have, and carry on, try to do some good things.

Q. You spoke a moment ago about the U.S. men and believing it. It's been a quarter century since this many men are into this stage of Wimbledon. What do you think it is about this particular group that has done something no other group has in all that time?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I mean, I thought this was going to be a good group for a long time. Even when we were juniors, guys are just good.

You know, Fritz, Tommy, Reilly, they all won junior slams. You know, I was doing well, (indiscernible) was doing really well. It was just good blood.

I think all the guys that were doing well, we were so happy for each other, genuinely wanted to see each other doing well. There was no jealousy. No one was envious of someone doing well. People were like, All right, if he's doing it, we practice every day and see each other. Well, I can do it too. That's how it kind of went about.

Now, you know, here we are. So hopefully we can just keep doing that, and, yeah, we will see. Time will tell.

Q. How do you and the others define "success"? Because for so many years people have been lamenting it's been since Andy Roddick to reach a major final to win a major. What do you think is success for you and your peers?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I mean, look, I mean, hopefully it happens in my career or one of theirs or after us, but I mean, again, not many guys were winning slams outside of the big three. I don't think it was American problem. I think it was a big four problem, honestly.

So it is what it is. A lot of great players in that era didn't win slams. Doesn't matter what the flag looks like.

But talking about defining "success," I think one of us can, whether it's me, I'd like it to be me, Fritz, Tommy, Reilly, we'll see. I mean, shit, I'm in the fourth round. We'll see.

Q. What led to that perspective shift? Obviously remember when you first made the quarterfinal it was hype and everyone was hyping, and now the difference is kind of clear.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Man, tournament is not over. There's other matches to be played. You know, I believe I can go deep in these tournaments.

You know, am I happy? Yeah. Once the tournament is over, y'all can take a step back and be like, Yeah, man, that was crazy. As of right now, we just gotta keep it moving.