US OPEN

September 5, 2022

Frances Tiafoe

Press Conference

F. TIAFOE/R. Nadal

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

THE MODERATOR: Three and a half hours, four sets, you move on. Assess your performance.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, it was definitely one hell of a performance. I played really well today. Yeah, I guess, I mean, I just came out there and I just believed I could do it. It helps I played him a couple times. Haven't played him in some years.

I'm a different person now, different player. I went out there trying to get a dub, and that's what I did.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What is most satisfying for you at this moment about what you accomplished today against the player you did it against and the opportunity ahead?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Kind of both, yeah, right? For a while there, I was like, geez. You see all these young guys get Rafa, Fed, Novak. Am I ever going to be able to say I beat one of them? Today I was like, no, I'm going to do that.

So now, it's something to tell the kids, the grandkids, Yeah, I beat Rafa. Hopefully I never play him again, but hope I end with a win (smiling).

Q. When you spoke on court you shouted out a bunch of people who were here today for you, including your parents. Could you explain why it was important for you that they were there today. I'm sure you've told this story many times, but give us a little bit of background about their journey and yours with their help.

FRANCES TIAFOE: No, absolutely. I'm a son of immigrants, both parents grew up in Sierra Leone, born and raised in Sierra Leone. Came to the States early '90s, late '80s, around there. Whatever. They met here, had me and my twin brother. My dad, being a maintenance worker at a club, help building a club '99. My mom being a nurse, working two jobs, working overtime through the nights.

Yeah, I mean, us being around tennis was kind of gets us getting out of our neighborhood. My dad kind of being able to watch us. It wasn't anything supposed to be like this. Once we got in the game of tennis, it was like my dad was like, It would be awesome if you guys can use this as a full scholarship to school. I mean, we couldn't afford a university. So use the game of tennis.

At that time watching Serena and Venus play finals of Grand Slams at that time, when I was super young. I was like, how cool would it be to play Wimbledon, to play on Arthur Ashe and stuff like that.

Yeah, I just had a big passion for the game. Not even mainly for me, but to do it for them. To see them experience me beat Rafa Nadal, they've seen me have big wins, but to beat those Mount Rushmore guys, for them, I can't imagine what was going through their heads.

Yeah, I mean, they're going to remember today for the rest of their lives.

Q. What were some of the things you were telling yourself while you were lying in bed last night, this morning, this afternoon, then through the match as it's proceeding?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, like the biggest thing with things like that is the time I played him before I got broken so early in each set. I was like, if I can just hold serve, 1-All, 2-All, 3-All. Then you start feeling all right, then you just play. You're in the match.

I think these guys are such good frontrunners. I never really gave myself a chance the last couple times I played him. That was, like, my main thing.

The night before, I was fine. Just watching TV. I was watching Nick put on a show last night. And then this morning, I woke up, I was like, God, it's early, I'm tired. I like to play later in the day. I wasn't really thinking about the match at all. I'm not a morning person at all.

But yeah, man, I felt pretty relaxed. Once I actually woke up, woke up, I was like I just want to win a tennis match today. It's pretty relevant. Rafa is on the other side. The last three years I've been in the fourth round, I wanted to go a step further. That was kind of like my focus.

Q. Did you see LeBron James' tweet?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Man, I was losing it in the locker room. Bro, I was going crazy (smiling).

Yeah, I mean, that's my guy. So to see him post that, I was like, Do I retweet it as soon as he sent it? I was like, You know what, I'm going to be cool and act like I didn't see it and then retweet it three hours later (laughter).

Obviously, like, he knows I'm a big fan of his. Got a text from Rich Paul as well. That's super cool. The fact they're watching right now. It's a perfect time. US Open is always a perfect time because there's no real sports really going on. People can focus on tennis, which is great.

Q. You're a Wizards fan?

FRANCES TIAFOE: A Wiz fan. Obviously saw Bradley Beal in there. His first tennis match, that was super cool, talking to him after. Yeah, he wants to come again. It was cool. Special day for me.

Q. It was pretty obvious what physical effort this required from you. What type of mental challenge was this for you in terms of willpower or focus to stay in it?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I feel fit. Like my fitness is solid right now. I've slimmed out a lot. Really put the time in with that.

It's the mental capacity. Rafa is there every point. I've been known to have some dips in my game at times, where it's like you're watching, what's that? That was my thing, match intensity. Even when I got broken in the fourth, get pissed or whatever, but stay in it, stay with him, stay in it. That's what I was able to do. Yeah, it was big.

Q. Earlier in the tournament you said you were happy to fly under the radar.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Now that's over, man. I was thinking about that. I was thinking about that. Now that's over. Sorry I cut you off. There's no dark horse any more.

It's all good. It helped me play well. It helped me kind of play well. But even now, I mean, I know what I can do, I know what I'm capable of doing these next couple matches if that happens.

I still feel no pressure. I still feel like I'm not supposed to do anything. I'm just here to play great tennis and enjoy it. I'm having fun out there, as you can see.

Q. Is there an element of satisfaction that you get to do it on the biggest stage, people know what you're capable of?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Absolutely. That win here obviously is insane. Like, Labor Day Monday was packed. It was totally packed. The crowd was insane. I wouldn't probably want to beat Rafa anywhere else. Maybe Centre Court Wimbledon. I've never played on Centre Court Wimbledon. Those two are the two pinnacles of tennis, these two slams.

Q. So many emotions after match point. What were you thinking?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I was telling my agent, I felt like the world stopped. I couldn't hear anything for a minute. Even shaking his hand, I don't even know what I said to him. It was such a blur.

Like, I was already tearing. I could barely see him and my team. Everyone was up. It was just wild. My heart is going a thousand miles an hour. I was so excited. I was like, Let me sit down.

Yeah, I've never felt something like that in my life, honestly.

Q. You said a minute ago you feel like you're still not supposed to do anything. Every player left in this draw has to feel like they have an opportunity to win this tournament. No more big three in the draw. How is that going to play with the remaining guys mentally?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, everyone is looking at it, I'm sure, everyone looks at it, like, Here we go, right? So am I. I'm just taking it day by day.

Yeah, slams, crazy things can happen. Especially here in New York, so... Yeah, it's going to be a fun ride come Wednesday.

Q. At some stage the big three will have to retire.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Been saying that for how many years now?

Q. This quarterfinal lineup looks like the next generation.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I think Nick playing great tennis is great for tennis. You see him packing stadiums when he's playing singles, doubles, whatever. Alcaraz is a great personality. Sinner. Myself. People get behind me. You know the American guys, Tommy, Fritz. There's a ton of guys playing great tennis.

I don't think it will be a big three. It will be like a big 12. There's a bunch of guys playing great tennis.

I think it's good. For sure you'll probably have someone who probably like will cement and be at the top. That's still kind of happening. We'll see who that person's going to be.

It's cool to see a new era.

Q. You mentioned you've been to the fourth round three years in a row, Wimbledon fourth round. How did that feel to you?

FRANCES TIAFOE: It helped I've been in a quarterfinal before in a slam. But, yeah, I was getting a lot of fuzz, fourth round three years in a row. It's kind of tough. It's kind of cool. Quarters, semis sound better, right?

But, yeah, I mean, obviously I had a tough customer today, too. I was like, Shit, might be three years in a row (laughter).

But, yeah, I'm starting to know how to, like, really come to slams and be ready. I think getting to the second week, not losing a set, helps. Things like that. Resting. I haven't went to dinner out once. Doing, like, Uber Eats and stuff, just chilling.

Yeah, I'm just kind of approaching this a lot different.

Q. What do you go for with Uber Eats?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Morton's Steakhouse. I'm still eating well. Don't worry about that (laughter). I'm not eating Chick-Fil-A or nothing like that. We still getting them good eats. It's just in the crib. You know what I'm saying?

Q. What in your assessment was the biggest difference between when you played Andrey here versus at Indian Wells? Do you think playing in Arthur Ashe gives you the advantage that you need?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I mean, also when I played Andrey, just came back from injury. I took, like, six weeks off. My first tournament back. He was playing really well. So I wasn't as confident.

He played well. He was the better player on the day. I mean, we're both in the quarterfinals of a slam. I'm going to be playing a lot better. I'm going to have the crowd with me. It makes a big difference. A lot more at stake. It's a totally different match I feel like.

Yeah, it's going to be a wild one if last year is any indication.