AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 13, 2025

Frances Tiafoe

Press Conference

F. TIAFOE/A. Rinderknech

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

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Frances. It's a tough battle out there. How happy are you to get the victory at the end.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, for sure. I mean, getting through the first round is never easy. Seeing another day is great, especially how I ended up feeling there.

Yeah, I'm really pleased getting through, and that's ultimately what matters.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What was your panic level?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Panic level?

Q. Chance in the fourth, not closing it.

FRANCES TIAFOE: I mean, after... I mean, not really. I'm more like, What's going on right now? I wasn't really in panic. I was kind of like, This is crazy.

But not really. Honestly, when I threw up, I felt like, I would say, okay, returning 5-6, I could be out of here in two minutes, out of here in five minutes. I mean, I have a breaker. I wasn't really panicking at that point. I lose the fourth, Man, I may not have enough energy, like, for the fifth.

So at that point I'm, like, thinking about it a little bit. But yeah, again, I think if it was, you know, any other probably event, I probably would have let it go. But here, you got to lay it all on the line.

Q. You mentioned physically some issues. What was going on exactly? Was that the heat, or...

FRANCES TIAFOE: Not really the heat, man. Probably overly hydrated, mixing a lot of electrolytes. I mean, it's 11:00. It's a tough time. We played for four hours. All of lunch we are playing through it. We ate at 10:00. I mean, playing 11:00, three out of five, wasn't too happy about that, to be honest with you. I feel like it's really tough to prepare.

But it is what it is. I'm happy I got through, happy everyone came out and enjoyed the four hours of tennis that was way longer than it should have been.

Q. Postmatch, what's the recovery been like?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Horrible. It's been terrible.

Q. What have you been feeling?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Everything. I just, like, walked around for a while in the locker room, just stitches. Kind of managed that. Finally got in the shower. Finally ate. But still not feeling great.

But at the same time you do feel great because you get to see another day. So you feel even worse if you're feeling like this and you're out of the tournament.

You know, I'm still in. So I'm going to sleep tonight with a little chuckle on my face, for sure.

Q. What did you eat at 10:00?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Just rice and chicken. Brought from last night. I didn't really know if the restaurant was going to be open.

I threw up all electrolytes and water. Wasn't like food in the tank was the issue. Neither was the heat, really. The heat is a little different here than what everyone is accustomed to. Look, man, things happen. It's been funny all the things I've been getting tagged with since then.

It's part of game, man. Got to be ready for all things, got to be willing to lay it all out there.

Q. What time of day do you generally request to play?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Well, I didn't request anything. I think you guys know I'm more of a night owl out here. I would have liked third. But, you know, when they schedule it, you play. You play.

Q. Will you put in a request in for the next round?

FRANCES TIAFOE: There will be a request in for the next round, for sure (smiling).

Q. The problem is with ESPN, prime time, which is first up here.

FRANCES TIAFOE: I didn't even think about that. I didn't think about that.

Q. Talk to them.

FRANCES TIAFOE: I really didn't even think about that. That's a great point.

Q. Thank you.

FRANCES TIAFOE: That's a really good point (laughter.) Screw ESPN (laughter.)

Q. First match in Lululemon. Was it weird walking out in a different kit, or...

FRANCES TIAFOE: Really happy about it. Felt like a new kind of beginning. Super happy about it, man. I thought the DMV jacket was super cool. Wasn't even something I suggested. Something they did on their own merit. JTCC correspondence with it. Super clever on their part, obviously where it started.

You know, pointing to the Lululemon after I won to the guys. I just thought it was great. Especially the match had everything in it, so I think it was, like, the perfect match to open up with being with Lululemon.

Back to your point of panic. I was more panicked to lose my first match with them. I'm happy they got to see that. They got to see their guy put it on the line.

I'm happy to see where I can take this and build the brand and be one of the faces of their brand. It's been great. I can't wait to go out there again. I think the outfit was amazing, too. It was great.

Q. Taylor Fritz...

FRANCES TIAFOE: Who's that? Taylor? Who is that?

Q. Yeah, he's an American tennis player. He went deep in a lot of the slams last year.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Okay (smiling).

Q. He sort of gained some separation in the rankings from the rest of the American pack, feels like.

FRANCES TIAFOE: For sure.

Q. I wonder how much if at all that's a concern for you? Or is that something that's more globally and don't worry too much about the American ladder, per se? What do you think has caused him to be able to pull away a bit?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I mean, to be honest with you, I don't really care. I'm super happy for him. But his success and what he does, what all the other Americans do doesn't, you know... We all push each other just naturally. It's not something like, where, Man, I'm third American. Oh, man, what am I doing? I really don't care.

I want to be at the top of the game point blank, period. I don't care what flag is in front of me. Seeing those guys do well, obviously you want them to continue. Like Fritz is 4 in the world. It's incredible.

It's more respect that rather than be envious of it. Like, what does that do? You know what I mean? I'm just happy for that guy. Incredible.

We got to play semis of the Open. He's made a final now. He's won Masters Series. I mean, he's doing really well. And so, you know, he's a guy that if you want to do something special, you have to probably go through him now.

It's great just seeing all of us do well. I'm not really into American... I'm not the guy. But I mean, there could be other guys about that. But I just want to win a major, bro. I don't really care what flag is in front of me. I want to win a major. If I got to beat all the American flags, then it is what it is.

Ultimately I'm happy for him.

What separates him is he's done unbelievable job with his movement. Couldn't put one foot in front of the other growing up. Now he moves really well. He extends points often.

He's always had a good serve, always had a good forehand. He's always been great for a stripe, but he's moving really well. It was evident at the Open. And he's one of the best competitors in the world. I don't think people talk about how well he competes. He hates to lose.

Days like today, he wins a lot of these type matches that I won today where he'll die and doesn't really care how it looks. So I have a lot of respect for that guy, for sure, ultimately.