US OPEN

September 4, 2024

Frances Tiafoe

Press Conference

F. TIAFOE/G. Dimitrov

6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 4-1 [Ret.]

THE MODERATOR: Frances, if you would, your thoughts on the win.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I mean, definitely abrupt ending, but I thought the level was really high there for two-and-a-half sets, three sets, whatever the case may be. Really, really high.

I thought I thought my game plan was perfect. I let him in there in the second a little bit, but I thought I just kept going, thought I applied pressure really well. Thought I played well.

The only thing, serve again wasn't where I wanted to be. Gave him a lot of second-serve looks. Just got to do better on that front. Everything else, I returned great, I moved really well tonight, and I made him earn a lot of points, which is great.

Ultimately, man, I don't really have that much to say. Super happy to be in another semi.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I know you were asked the other night about playing against Roger earlier in your career, but having him in the stands tonight, what does that mean to you and how much does that sort of inspire you on the court?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I mean, that was pretty sick. Obviously, I wasn't thinking about it that much. More pumped about Kevin Hart instead of Roger, honestly (smiling). You know, the last couple years of Laver Cup you kind of get used to that, seeing him in the stands.

But, yeah, like when they show him, like, this dude was different, man, winning five years in a row. You know, the way he looked in the suites is the same way he looked when he was playing. No sweat. You know, tees ironed perfect. What's up with this dude, man? Hair perfect. It was just funny, man. I give him crap about that all the time.

What a guy. What a legend. So nice he's enjoying his life, doing his thing, just popping in wherever he kind of wants to, and everyone embraces him. Unbelievable, wherever he goes. I mean, he's such an icon. Ultimately it was pretty dope. But seeing Kevin Hart was sick, honestly (smiling).

Q. Well done. So this journey, I mean, you've been in here for a couple of weeks, and saying you believed in yourself. When did you really start to believe that it was possible to get where you are now and maybe go even further?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I mean, since I'm in New York. Obviously I just came from the final in Cincinnati. I'm coming here feeling pretty good. You know, like, it always helps going to a place where you've had great success.

But to be honest with you, I wasn't really thinking, you know, make a semi, win the event. I just saw the draw and I was, like, man, I gotta play Ben. I'm not that high seeded like I was before, so I don't know where I'm going to sit at. Playing Ben, that's not something you're gonna look past, are you? Once I kind of got through that, the draw shakes up, and then you're kind of, like, why not?

Just day by day. Now my feet are in the semis. It is what it is.

Q. Yet another U.S. hard court swing where you're having really good results here at the Open. Is there something you learned at this point about this time of the year you want to bottle up and use for the rest of your season?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Probably not. Probably just keep it for August. (Laughing.)

No, man. It's too hard to replicate. It's too hard to replicate.

I'll never be excited to play in the States than I would be to play, like, in Madrid. That's just not happening. The only place outside of the States where I feel really, really good to play is at Wimbledon, Queen's, you know, on the grass where it's, like, really fun to play and they really embrace me a lot out there.

It's just too hard, man. You see when you're out here playing, it's madness out here. Like, what's going on, bro? It's crazy.

It's too hard to replicate. You get so excited. Watched it as a kid. I'm just really focused, man. I'm locked in. I'm having fun. I'm not putting so much pressure on myself. I'm kind of just going in, battling.

I've been producing some really nice stuff. You know, it's almost like a joke that Frances wakes up in August. We'll see how my career going forward with that.

Q. I know it's going to be a war on Friday with you and Taylor. I know you're focused individually on what you want to get out of this tournament, but I wonder if there's any satisfaction the fact that we have the first American male Grand Slam finalist since 2009 in here, since 2006 that your group has collectively produced that?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, me, Taylor, Tommy, Reilly, we've spoken about it for years, this is the group, this is the group. You know, we openly speak about it.

I think we all been knocking on the door. Taylor's been in and out of top 10. You know, top 15. Myself, I was top 10 this time last year. Tommy is knocking on the door of quarters, playing great. Ben's so... It's only a matter of time. You put yourself in positions, it's only a matter of matter of time, and the game is open. It's not like it once was where you make quarterfinals, you play Rafa, and you're looking at flights.

I mean, that's just the reality. Now it's just totally different, you know. And no one's unbeatable. Especially later in the season where guys are maybe a little bit cooked. Maybe just not as fresh and they're vulnerable.

Yeah, it's pretty exciting. First time since '09. Hopefully it's me.

Q. Do you remember the first time you met Taylor or first time you played him? Do you remember also the first time you guys might have, when there was the two of you or the rest of this group, some of whom you just mentioned, that you guys might have joked about or seriously talked about doing this, getting to these stages of these tournaments together maybe?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I mean, it's not like a sit-down intervention kind of thing. (Laughing.)

Q. I meant even like as kids when you first started knowing each other.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, definitely not as kids. You don't know what making it is like when you're 12 or 13.

When I first met him, Taylor was, I mean, he was an odd cat, different cat. I mean, I definitely wasn't thinking he was going to do what he's done. He's changed his body unbelievable. You know, like, he's just really talented. He was a part-time player, he played couple times of week, had a court at his house. He'll tell you, he went to normal high school. He was just a normal kid. While we're out there grinding. Then he started putting more time into it.

Yeah, man, he was funny, man, when we were younger. I think as we got closer to it, seeing how committed he is and how much he wanted it, once we all kind of turned pro, we all just pushed each other to want to be great. You know, sometimes unspoken; sometimes you speak about it. But, yeah, nobody wants to leave each other behind. It's been a special thing to be a part of.

Q. You've got 1-6 record against Taylor but I'm guessing the way you're talking about it and playing right now, never played each other at the US Open, you're assuming things might be completely different this time. How do you approach a match like that? Do you take any of those prior matches into it or is it just such a different situation?

FRANCES TIAFOE: It's different on Ashe, man. It's different. Obviously you have to learn from those. You know, I mean, couple of those I thought I actually should have won.

He's tough, man. He's a tough player. He plays great from both sides, has a great serve, he's moving much better now. It's going to be tough.

It's going to be a big one for both of us, playing for a final. I don't think those matches are anywhere near what this match would be, so it's kind of tough to even go from there. Playing quarters of Acapulco 500 and playing semis at Arthur Ashe at night -- well, hopefully at night -- it's a little different. It's a little different.

You know, I mean, it's going to be interesting, man. We' ll see what happens.

Q. You have been asked a lot, and all the other American players, about the rise of American players. How does it feel to have the rise of also African American players and other Black players from other countries? Also, does that motivate you or give you more pressure, especially that you're one of the first to break through, semifinals not your first time, you have done it two years ago?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, it's great, man. It's great. You see especially from me and my area, I see Hailey here; she should have qualified. Robin Montgomery. You have this Italian American girl, Grant or something like that, I've seen her around. Tyra Grant. Yeah, that's pretty cool. You see Matt Forbes, won Kalamazoo, he played in the main draw here. He had a funny celebration I saw on Instagram. Young dudes are different nowadays.

Yeah, man, it's cool, man. It's cool when those guys see me, they see me as, like, a role model, a guy they want to aspire to be. That's a pretty cool seat to be in. Obviously as you guys know, I'm not a guy who takes himself too serious by any means. It's funny being in that seat but at the same time you have a responsibility when you're out there, compete, enjoy, because things you do, those kids are going to mimic and want to be how you carry yourself, how you approach your game, how you compete with you out there, things you say in interviews, they're going to want to mimic that and be like that.

It's great, and then from a big picture standpoint, I've got so many people that would never watch tennis a day in their life coming to matches because I'm playing. You know, you've seen so many cool people come out to watch, and just normal people that would just never really watch tennis and now are, like, fans of it because I'm playing it.

It means a lot, and it's helping the game. I genuinely think when I'm playing well it helps the sport, for sure.

Q. You spoke a bit about the way Taylor was as a kid. What do you consider now to be the biggest differences between you as players and as personalities?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I mean, as personalities you can't meet two more, like extreme -- he's, like, you know, he's video game, never leave the room, goofball. I'm loud and obnoxious at times.

But he's also very funny. Like he's got that, like, dry humor, smart ass, but at the same time that's why we like each other because we are so different, and that's why we get along so well.

Then as competitors, we are very alike, hate to lose. We battle hard, but, I mean, personalities, we are very different. It's funny to see our relationship how we've gotten older.

Taylor and I had a conversation about being 1, 2 Americans for a very long time. I remember we were sitting on a plane some years ago, and, you know, he's pretty to-himself kind of dude, and he's, like, bro, I think me and you are going to be 1, 2 Americans and leading the way.

Coming from him. I was, like, dang, dude, 6:00 a.m., I'm pretty tired, but let's do it. Why not? You know, he's kind of had that mindset and he's pushed me a lot, you know what I mean? Times I'm playing really bad or whatever the case may be and he's doing it or vice versa, I think we have kind of always pushed each other. Now I think it's great that we get to compete against each other in such a big match, and I'm happy for him. I know he's happy for me.

Let the best man win come Friday. It's going to be epic. Popcorn, do what you got to do. It's going to be a fun one come Friday.