US OPEN

August 30, 2024

Frances Tiafoe

Press Conference

F. TIAFOE/B. Shelton

4-6, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Frances, congratulations. Five sets. Four hours. Seemed to get stronger as the match went on. Assess your performance for us, if you would.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, great performance, man. Great battle ultimately, all in all. I think, yeah, I think I returned exceptional today. I thought I made a lot of returns, made him play a lot.

I think that's something I have really improved on since I've hired David Witt, focusing a lot on that. That paid a lot of dividends. I wished I served better throughout the match but I served really well at the end, and that's kind of what counts. That's probably the only thing I could critique.

Ben's an incredible player, man, and he comes up with the goods a lot. It was definitely a tough match.

But I think, I'm not just saying this because we just spoke in the locker room, but I think the level was a lot higher this year than we played last year throughout the five sets.

Ultimately a great performance, something I'm really happy about.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You've played your fair share of really, really big-deal matches with a good atmosphere and everything here. Was this one more meaningful having gone through the losses last year against Ben and then before that against Carlos, like being on the other side of it? Did it mean more today?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Well, the Carlos year, I mean, also beat Nadal during that time. It was tough, but it wasn't -- never been to the semis of a slam. I felt like I was, like, one of the greatest athletes in the world that time. I felt everyone was just loving me.

Of course I'm pissed, I would love to play a final, but it was such a great run that I wasn't really that pissed about it. Just happy to be a part of that.

Yeah, I mean, losing last year to him, struggled for a long time. Played really, really bad for a very, very long time.

A lot of things have happened since then. I struggled with a lot of things, motivation-wise, things like that, taking the game for granted. So many other things.

So, you know, it was amazing to have that matchup. I was, like, look, I'm going to get to the round for sure. I really want that matchup. I was like, But, please, no one upset him. It would be epic to do this again. What are the chances?

Obviously it's bittersweet, third round. I know how that feels like. Just losing five sets at Wimbledon, third round, playing probably the match of the tournament, but at the end of the day you lose and you lost in the third round. It's tough.

But yeah, what an incredible match, incredible atmosphere. You know, for a day match, it was epic.

Q. Once again, Frances, you got an entire stadium howling for you. It was a fun fest once again out there. Ben spoke highly of your impact on tennis and sports. It's a tough question, but what do you feel your impact has been on our sport over the years?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Well, I mean, yeah, appreciate the words from Ben. And I think he's definitely done that now. Obviously he's a newer face to the tour. But I mean, I think just showing your personality. Obviously diversity in sports is massive. Showing your personality, being you, you don't have to be, you know, this stand-up, perfect class-act guy all the time. You can be you, get pumped up in however way you like to. Obviously a lot of my celebrations is how I get pumped up from other sports. I love ball, so a lot of my celies are from that.

But I think I've had an amazing crossover. A lot of people that follow and want to come watch that would never really watch tennis. Because of the story I have and my interests outside of the game, it's really helped the sport go forward. I really feel like, you know, from 2022 the US Open has looked totally different, and I would like to say I definitely had a place in that.

Tennis is in a great place, and I'm happy with everything I've been able to do.

Q. Were you surprised, maybe even disappointed, that this wasn't scheduled to be at night? I also wanted to ask you just about that moment at the net with Ben. It was kind of an extended thing there, seemed like. If you'd be willing to share what any of the chat was.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I think a little bit of catch-22 for me. Not playing at night, I thought it was going to be for sure at night. All my friends and close ones saying how is he not playing at night. I don't know how I'm going to get there, da, da, da, blah, blah, blah. I was like, Fact of the matter is, we're not playing night, it doesn't really matter. I just want to win, I don't really care.

At the same time, it was, like, you know, of course I want it to be at night but at the same time I was like, well, I lost at night last year so maybe just a little bit something different (smiling).

You think about these things a little bit too. I'm not saying that out loud. I can say it now because the match is over.

But, I mean, it would have been cool at night. Look, it was epic during the day. I think everyone loved it. I don't really think it matters. People all across the world could have watched it because it was during the day. Maybe if it's at 7:00, there would have been people in Europe, stuff like that, can't watch. I think it was epic. I think everybody enjoyed it. It is what it was.

Then at the net, he was just saying, you know, you're so cold at tennis. You better keep going. And he was pissed that I was so casual on that volley at the end (smiling). I was, like, Dude, it looked casual but I was tight as hell.

You know, he's just saying a bunch of kind words and stuff like that. You know, saying keep going and all the best to you going forward, try to win the Open.

Q. What do you think it was that allowed you to respond, down 2-1 this time versus last year? Did your mind flash back at all to last year when you were down two sets to one, sort of same situation, and then the match got away from you fairly quickly, but certainly a completely different response today?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I think it's been something I have been doing much better. I just don't lay down. Having pride in myself, just don't lay down.

I mean, I've been working on myself so much, you know, I have a mental guy, process guy, and I've been working on myself, trying to just look at the glass differently.

You know, I just want to, win or lose matches, knowing the guy beat me; I didn't beat myself. No free lunches. I'm not trying to help my opponent get over the line.

Obviously last year I fell away quickly, broken twice, pretty unacceptable the way I lost in the end. I was like, just hold serve, hold serve, keeping the scoreboard pressure, see what happens.

That's kind of what it was. I was down two sets to one, I was like, look, you've got nothing else to do, nowhere else to be. Just keep going.

It was a tight set. It was not much in the match at that point. You know, you're fit, it's not very hot. Just keep going. So I wasn't really -- if you saw when I walked off I wasn't really that concerned, I wasn't really that stressed out about it. I was just, let's just keep going. The only thing you can focus on is my opening game in the fourth, and keep it rocking from there.

Q. When you talk about the time in which you feel like you took tennis for granted, how did that manifest for you and do you look back on that time as just a part of the process of adjusting to what it means to compete with the best in the game?

FRANCES TIAFOE: You know, it's tough, it's tough. Look, the margins are so tight. The depth in the game is incredible right now. So many guys playing really well. If you're not sharp you can lose. Obviously you seen what happened to Carlos last night, just not sharp, he's going to lose. He's going to get clipped, man. Guys are good.

No one is light years better than anybody else, even Carlos, Sinner, these guys that are winning, Medvedev, win so much. If you're not sharp and bringing your ability that we all know you can, you're probably going to lose. This is just a fact of the matter.

Guys are really good. During that time when I'm doing that, I'm losing a lot (smiling). You know, it was definitely tough. You've got an ego that gets hurt and things like that. You don't want to play, your practices are bad. You just go down a rabbit hole. It's all part of the process, man. You need those moments because these ones feel really good.

You know, outside of every tough moment, success is at the end of the tunnel, but a lot of people quit right before that, and I wasn't trying to do that.

Q. Ben said that basically you were probably the best returner he had ever played so far this season. Was the return something you were really focused on going into the match, as in returning Ben's big serve?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I mean, I think returning has been a thing I've been, since I started with David, something that he's really been focusing on, for sure. You know, before we started he was, like, look, you play your return games way too relaxed. We need to adjust that.

I'm returning much better, making returns, I'm making guys play. It's funny, you feel suffocated after a while knowing you're going to play each and every point. You saw a little bit at the end, he was getting a little frustrated, going for broke, not wanting to stay in points.

Yeah, I mean, that's something I really focused on today, for sure. You know, make him play. Obviously he's going to hit some rockets that you're just not going to be able to touch. If it's on my racquet, let's make it and let's put on the running shoes and let's play.

Q. You spoke about taking things for granted in the past, but now, how do you think you're defined by how hard you work?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I mean, it's not like I'm out here, like, you know, like, running up Mount Kilimanjaro. I'm not changing anything crazy. It's just I just got the joy again, bro. I just love -- you start looking outwards and being like, man, I'm blessed to do what I do.

You know, like playing on Centre Court, Wimbledon, I really think if I lost first round Wimbledon when I was down two sets to love, I probably wouldn't even be in this position. Playing Wimbledon, getting a standing O, I'd never been on Centre Court, never sat on Centre Court, nothing. So when I walked out there, epic with him, and I was, man, people love to see what I do. And the game is in a better place when I'm playing really well.

Yeah, people, like kids and people really love to see what I do. Obviously when you're losing as much as I did, playing on the side courts and not really having fanfare and things like that.

So that joy came again. I wanted to practice. I wanted to be me. I was ready to play. Obviously I put myself in a hot seat making that clown comment. So you have to back yourself a little bit when you make comments like that. It's been a fun ride, and obviously once I get to the States I love to play, I love to be in the States, I love competing in the States. Yeah, I'm just going to go play...

Q. On the court you mentioned that Ben kind of was going for a lot of shots, can do a lot on the court. It sounded a bit like the way people would speak about you in the past. What's it like being kind of the steadier player, like, the vet, in a way?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Let's not twist that. I still hit a lot of crazy shots. Let's not get that twisted, for sure.

Q. You had less than half of his unforced errors.

FRANCES TIAFOE: For sure. Yeah, I definitely want to play percentages a little bit more because he's so see ball, hit ball.

But obviously he can get away with that because his serve is so good. My serve is good at times; can be patchy at times. I can't do that as much as he does.

But yeah, it's funny playing him, man, because you think you hit some good returns deep and he's back foot. You're like, sure, he's going to spin this cross and we're going to play it out and he ropes one up the line. I'm like, all right, bro.

He's a hell of a player, man. He's 21. Only going to get better. Got a great coach in his dad and works hard and loves the game. You know, he's so fearless. Yeah, he's a hell of a player, man.

Q. It's interesting what you were just saying about Wimbledon, because Alexei Popyrin just before now had never ever seen the inside or stepped on Ashe before. If you were to play him in the next round, what are your thoughts going into that? And also, separately, if you were to play Novak, what would be your thoughts going in there?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I'm probably playing the best tennis of my life right now. He's always been really talented. He's starting to put it together.

He's got Malisse with him and stuff like that, and Neville Godwin. He's been working really hard. He's a great guy, great player. Obviously he's going to be tough. You don't expect anything easy at this point.

He just won a Masters Series a little bit ago. He's going to play Novak tough. I don't even know what the score is. They just went out there. It's going to be tough. He's going to serve big, big forehand, come to the net, do all those things. You have to be ready.

Nole, I don't think I really need to stroke him, his ego. He's Novak, like, he's done everything in the game. I mean, it's incredible to even be out here, to be honest with you. If I did what he did after a gold medal, I'm just staying in Serbia, chilling, drinking like crazy.

That's why he is who he is, right? He's an unable guy too. Me and him crack jokes all the time. I really like that dude. Yeah, man, 37, want to come back out here? That's insanity, but hey, man, to each his own.