DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 24, 2022

Frances Tiafoe

Team USA

Press Conference

L. SONEGO/F. Tiafoe

6-3, 7-6

Team Italy - 1

Team USA - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Frances, that was a tough one, obviously. At the moment, are you feeling frustrated or are you feeling angry? What is your mindset right now?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Well, I mean, I have felt better in my life, obviously. But, I mean, it's tough, right? It's been a great season for me, obviously. You know, I want to win for my team. Yeah, a little extra frustration, you know, because it's not about you. It's about the team.

I feel bad. I feel like I let these guys down a little bit. Luckily we got Taylor hopefully can raise it to 1-1, and then we can get to the doubles.

Yeah, I would have loved to start us with a 1-0 lead. Yeah, I'm a bit frustrated.

Q. Do you feel that there was any one specific part of that match that changed anything? It was obviously very close right to the end, I understand that, but would there be one specific thing you feel you'd want to change midmatch?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Play a little more aggressive. Just throughout the match, I felt like a lot of the points he was dictating, he was running me around, he was more the aggressor. He served well. He served really well, I thought.

Yeah, I just wasn't as aggressive as I have been. I was a bit more tentative, and he took advantage of that.

I mean, I wasn't missing balls really, but I wasn't hurting him. You know, guys are too good. If you have guys that hit and make you run, sometimes you get away with it and sometimes you don't, and today I didn't.

Q. Frances, you're known as a player that feeds off a crowd atmosphere. How was it for you today? Were you expecting there to be so many Italian supporters?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, yeah. They travel well. You've got this guy too. Damn. Italian supporter. (Laughter.)

Yeah, no, they travel well. You know, I mean, they love tennis in Italy. They want to see their people do well. It's good.

Don't ask me no questions, man. You don't get to ask me anything (smiling).

Q. I'm sorry for you. I'm happy for myself.

FRANCES TIAFOE: You always come in here with your Italian (smiling).

Q. Tell me, did you expect that he could play so well, or you think that you didn't play as well as you could? Probably both, but what is your impression?

FRANCES TIAFOE: No, I mean, you give respect where respect is due. He played well. He served well. He hit his forehand great. He used the crowd well. He played well.

I didn't play exceptional, but I didn't play bad by any means. I thought I played a pretty decent level. I just didn't play well enough to win.

I mean, I'm not going to sit here and tell you I played bad, because I didn't. But he played well.

Q. You had two chances, two set points.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Two set points. He played two good serves. He played two good points. Saved some match points in the breaker, and then he hits another two good serves. Too good.

Q. He made 17 aces, which is not very common for him. Is it because the surface is very quick or because maybe you didn't find the position to return well? What was the problem?

FRANCES TIAFOE: It's funny. He hit 17 aces, but I felt like I was in almost every return game. I had a lot of 30-Alls. I had a lot of chances like that.

He did hit a lot of aces, but yeah, I mean, he was serving big, I thought. Quick. Yeah.

Q. Have you met him at the Maldives Islands? He was in the Maldives Islands 10 days ago.

FRANCES TIAFOE: He was?

Q. Yes. You were too?

LORENZO SONEGO: I don't go to Maldives Player Lounge, you know what I mean? Everyone goes to the Maldives after the season. I don't want to see players in my off time. I wasn't at the Maldives Player Lounge (smiling).

Q. Which do you think was the biggest difference between this match and the other match you just played?

FRANCES TIAFOE: It was kind of flip-flopped. I was the one being aggressive, running him around, being aggressive. I was hitting the ball much harder.

I think the balls are pretty fluffy here. It's tough to hit through. But he would as well. A couple of weeks ago I was playing very aggressive and stuff, and today he was. That was part of the biggest difference.

Q. On a flippant point, where did you go instead of the Maldives?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I went to Turks and Caicos, actually, with my girlfriend. I had a great time. I didn't see any tennis players, which was nice.

Then I was home for a little bit after here. A little bit under the weather a couple days before coming here, so I was just kind of just in bed at the house. I love being home. D.C.'s the best.

Q. Irrespective of what the end result is today, will all of you guys still be able to celebrate your Thanksgiving Day tonight?

FRANCES TIAFOE: What are you saying? If we lose?

Q. Whether you win or lose.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Well, if we win, we are just going to chill out and watch some American football and just chill and get ready for Saturday.

If we don't win today, we are looking at flights and trying to get my ass home as quick as I can and spend it with my actual family. You know what I mean? Kind of win-win, in a sense, but I'd much rather be here. I mean, I flew all the way out here.