The ITF's Katrina Adams stays on the front lines for women with the Tory Burch Foundation Sports Fellowship

Frances Tiafoe may be one of the most box office players competing at the 2022 US Open, but the American admitted to feeling under the radar amid a men’s field full of opportunity in the wake of Novak Djokovic’s absence from the draw.

“I think anybody can win,” he said after overcoming fellow American Marcos Giron on Tuesday, citing the impact of then-world No. 40 Nick Kyrgios’ runner-up finish at Wimbledon. “I mean, anyone who's really got the game.”

A year removed from his Arthur Ashe Stadium heroics against Andrey Rublev, Tiafoe nonetheless began his 2022 campaign out on Court 17—a charming venue but perhaps not one that can adequately contain the 24-year-old’s boundless charisma.

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Still, in the wake of early exits from the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Taylor Fritz, Tiafoe will embrace the underdog role for as long as he can:

Q. I was talking to Taylor yesterday, Stefanos, who lost. They were weirded out for different reasons. One of the things Stefanos said it’s kind of the opportunity at hand, he could get close to No. 1. Do you see that at all? Do you feel there’s a huge opportunity at this slam?
FRANCES TIAFOE: No doubt, man. I mean, Novak couldn’t play. You look, it’s true. You look at the rankings for those guys, not Taylor, but Stefanos, I mean, yeah, he’s ready, No. 1 in the world. He had a great opportunity.

I mean, it’s tough. There’s just a change in guard just in general. Who is going to be that guy, who is going to be that consistent guy that hasn’t really formed yet. Everyone is around the same level honestly. Everyone is beatable at the same time. Even the top guys.

_Yeah, I mean, it’s cool. I think tennis needs that, see some new faces, what have you. But it’s interesting. I mean, I’m not there yet. You ask me. I’m still that dark horse who can do something special.

I kind of like it that I’m not like in the forefront of that ’cause, you know, let those guys handle the pressure. I’m kind of Court 17, get some cheeky wins._

Following his cheeky win over Giron, Tiafoe will likely get an even bigger court assignment when he takes on either Jason Kubler or Mikael Ymer, whose first-round match was suspended due to rain on Tuesday night.

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