US OPEN

August 28, 2024

Frances Tiafoe

Press Conference

F. TIAFOE/A. Shevchenko

6-4, 6-1, 1-0 [Ret.]

THE MODERATOR: Frances, congratulations. On to the third round. How do you process today? Two very good sets. Then circumstances, on the court for an hour and a half.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, you take those. You know, I was really pleased with the way I played. I thought the first set could have been similar to the second. I had a lot of chances there. Started serving pretty well there at the end of the first and all the way through to the second. Returned really well today.

I can't complain, you know, first match on Ashe. How warm it was today, obviously, you know, I'm a competitor and never want to win on retirement but I'll take that. Happy with the way I played and continue to build on that.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How would you describe your thoughts about Ben Shelton from both playing with him and interacting with him, and the possibility of facing him next?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, as I said, I hope we play again for sure. I definitely want to play against him. Obviously, you know, he's very much like me in, you know, how excited and, you know, energetic he is on the court and has such a big game and big shots and serves big and gets the crowd going.

You know, he's 20, 21 years old. He's young, funny, cracks jokes. Just about as immature as I am (smiling).

We always have fun joking around and cracking jokes, for sure.

Q. What does he do best? What is most challenging about him game for you?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Obviously, I mean, obviously his serve. He's got one of the better serves on the tour, no question. Especially a lefty, he hits all the spots, changes pace quite well. It's going to be tough but I'm super excited.

Q. What for you is it like when you have a night match, during the day waiting around? You've talked about loving that kind of moment in the spotlight and all of that, but what's it like waiting 10 hours or however long it might be to get out on the court for that?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Man, Howard, I play so much at night that it doesn't really faze me. It's almost weird if I play during the day, honestly, at this point in my career.

I mean, I'm a very relaxed guy. I don't really stress out much. If I'm playing in the evening, I'm not really thinking about it until I get in the car to go. In the morning I'm just chilling. I walk with my girl, get a chai tea latte in the morning, watch some other matches unfold, get on the 'Gram, play some Afrobeats. Not much I'm really stressed about until it's time to go.

Q. It's been 20 years since an American won this tournament. You have five in the top 20 now. How would you describe the rise of the American men?

FRANCES TIAFOE: No, look, we've all been playing really well. We've all been playing really well. There's a window, there's an opening in the game. As I said, you know, this is my tenth US Open. A lot of guys, I mean, a lot of familiar faces winning the event. We had three greats playing at the same time and winning events. Obviously you had some sleepers come out of nowhere and win the US Open.

I think this is definitely the one that we can win. We just haven't done it yet. We have five guys in top 20, all guys are dangerous, all guys are capable.

It's kind of a why-not thing.

Q. We saw you in the Jalen Brunson jersey.

FRANCES TIAFOE: It's funny. I was actually trying to wear a Mikal Bridges because he was coming to the match today and he texted me that he was coming to the match, but I'm just not a morning person, so I put it on and then when I took it off to go practice, I was, like, God, Jalen.

But yeah, Brunson, he's the man here. He's damn near bigger than Jay-Z.

Q. With Bridges, what's the connection there?

FRANCES TIAFOE: A mutual friend linked us. I'm friends with a lot of guys in the league just because I follow hoop a lot, I have a lot of hoop celebration. I did his celebration to him after the match, and he was laughing.

Yeah, I mean, it's all just, you know, my love for hoop and them just following me, because someone of color playing tennis. That's kind of the connection.

Q. How did that loss to Ben last year here affect you, would you say, in retrospect, looking back on it?

FRANCES TIAFOE: No, 100%. 100%. Obviously I wanted to get back-to-back semis. I wanted to do well. Obviously, attention shifts. That wasn't easy. That wasn't something I was pleased about by any means. Then I had, you know, and then I had bad season after that to follow it.

Again, stuff you definitely learn from. You know, I mean, I think everything that comes, you know, in your career, all the highs and lows, only sets you up for better moments ahead. I'm super excited for the match, and any opportunity to do it again. So, yeah.

Q. During your presser at Wimbledon, you did share that you were kind of picky how you're picking your coach. Saw you working with David Witt, what made you go with him, especially his background is little bit more with WTA players, Sakkari, Pegula, so on. Why did you end up working with David?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I'm pro woman sports and everything. I think if you coach well in anything, you're a high-level coach, or it's whatever.

I think our personalities just match so well. He's so relaxed and chill, and obviously that, you know, helps me a lot. He did so well. He did unbelievable with Venus, he did unbelievable with Jess. Jess was, you know, your average kind of player and then now she's elite. She's been elite for years now. I mean, every time she steps in a slam, you're like, man, she can win it. Just trying to be a part of that (smiling).

And it was cool. The first day we started, it was kind of like we just started from day one, just got to work, and didn't put so much pressure on it, just try to stay in the present, just get to work and have fun.

Q. Caroline Garcia put some stuff on social media today highlighting the kind of abuse she receives after losing matches on social media, Twitter, et cetera. What's your experience with that and how do you handle it?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I get it. I've been getting (indiscernible) for a long time. I mean, I get it. It obviously frustrates people. It's never good. People are saying outlandish shit -- sorry -- outlandish stuff. It's just wild. You got guys working all their life like trying to compete at the highest level. You don't know people's circumstances, what they're going through, how this affects people.

But I think the biggest thing I would definitely like to tell players and other colleagues, men and women, like, these people, they're going to follow your life regardless. So don't hang your head so low, like on these things. They're following your life. You don't care about anything they do. They're going to continue to follow your life.

You're the prize, you're the important person. Be more upset about the loss or tough time you're actually going through and don't let your mood get even worse from people you don't know or care about opinion, like, puts you in the gutter.

It's already hard enough. That's the biggest thing I would say. But again, I'm not going to say it's an easy thing. Personally I don't care, it doesn't bother me, but for people, I get why it bothers them.

Q. You have spoken before about how important sleep is in your recovery. How do you manage that at a tournament like this where, as you say, you're often playing late at night, anyway?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Just go to sleep, bro. I don't know what you want me to say. I think obviously if you finish late, you know, your day, the next day, suffers a little bit. Just focus on sleep.

Like, yesterday I didn't come here at all. I was just in the crib, in the hotel, did some recovery in the city and just slept and relaxed, napped, kind of chilled. I had a busy week after Cincinnati and just kind of wanted to hang out and relax.

It was very, very important, because today I thought I was springy, I was alert, I was feeling it. Those things matter more than anything. At this point we're not going to forget how to hit a tennis ball.

Q. (Off mic.)

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I tried to today but it was too early.

Q. We are a couple days away, are you ready for the Jayden Daniels era?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I like that, coach. I think it's going to be good. I think he's going to be a really good quarterback in this league. Obviously he's playing for us. I'm super excited for him. I mean, our line isn't the best, but I'm excited to see what he does and what he shakes up. I think in some years we can be good. Everyone in D.C. is talking about us going to the playoffs. That's high hopes, but we'll see, man. We'll see what happens.

I'm really excited for him. I'm a fan and can't wait to meet him.

Q. I'm sure you played many, many practice sets against other players over the years. Have you ever felt someone was cheating you?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Cheating? Oh, there's a lot of guys who hook. Oh, God, brutal. Brutal. I'm not going to name names, but brutal.

It's just comedy to me. Again, you know, these practice sets aren't going on ESPN. I don't get why people do it. But, hey, man, whatever floats your boat.

Yeah, it's funny. It's funny. A lot of people do.

Q. When someone does it to you, how do you react normally?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I'm going to call them out and just laugh about it. I'm like, come on, bro. That's what we're doing? That's where we're going? But, I mean, yeah.

And then, like, you know, I'll do it back. Not like blatant, but if it was a close one, I'll be like, no, that's just out, sorry, bro. I don't really care, like, it's out. (Laughter.)

Q. You mentioned some of the music that you listen to coming to the US Open or to an event is Afrobeats. Who are your favorite Afrobeats artists, whether it be contemporary or pioneering Afrobeats musicians, and what does that particular music genre do for you?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Gets me in that mode, man. Just makes you feel good, right? Obviously Burna is my family. I listen to him nonstop. Wizkid, Davido, Asake is killing right now. Tems had a great new album. You're going to make me go down the list. There's this new guy Kaytranada, he's got this fire song with GoldLink, I was playing that in the locker room before I came here. It's vibes.

But before I play I'm listening to Nipsey to get really going. Nipsey's kind of changed my approach in how I see life and everything. He's been big for me.

Q. How are you feeling mentally right now, and what's kind of going through your mind?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I mean, I feel good mentally. I mean, pretty hungry right now, but yeah, but other than that, I feel pretty good, man. All jokes aside.

I feel sharp, I feel ready. Ready for war, ready to continue to, you know, compete for this thing. We have a very, very tough section. So this is kind of now where it gets going and you've got to be ready to give everything now. No excuses. Kind of be able to put your best foot forward and be ready.

Whatever you gotta do, do it. I'll be ready come Friday.

Q. They asked on the court about your laundry.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, it's a disgrace.

Q. What about shoes? How many sneakers do you have ready for a five-set match, and over the course of a whole Grand Slam, how many pairs of shoes do you think you go through?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I've got, like, eight pairs but I brought three today. I'm going to get one more tomorrow.

It's better just to be overprepared than not. Obviously can't just get to the hotel so quick in Manhattan. Takes a while to get back. Try to, you know, be overprepared. I'm sweating crazy. I mean, today, what was it, 95 degrees outside? Today was crazy.

Yeah, I just try to bring as much as I can. I've got 20 shirts, I've got a bunch of shoes. I'm happy I've been able to keep everything with me, to be honest with you, because I lose everything. I've been doing pretty well with that so far, especially in the majors.