How to gauge success in a promising young player? Start with results, the arrow pointed towards a steady stream of weekend appearances at smaller events and second-week runs at the majors. But along with that comes the need for certain kinds of victories, not just over peers, but those big wins that raise eyebrows among fans and peers. Toss in a level of sustainability—high-quality performances over time—and the sense begins to emerge that this hopeful might well be on the path towards something even better.
Over the last two months, Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe have commenced impressive periods of growth. Each reached the finals at an ATP event last week, the 26th-ranked Fritz in St. Petersburg; the 41st-ranked Tiafoe in Vienna. Each plays Tuesday at the Paris Masters, Fritz versus 27th-ranked Lorenzo Sonego, Tiafoe taking on qualifier Marcos Giron.
Based on what he did last week in Vienna, the 23-year-old Tiafoe will surely not underestimate a qualifier. Himself a qualifier at that tournament, Tiafoe won two matches to get into the main draw and then continued to play superbly. His victims included world No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas, the perpetually tough Diego Schwartzman and rapidly ascending Jannik Sinner. In the semis versus Sinner, Tiafoe rallied from a set and 5-2 down to win the match, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. Up against Alexander Zverev in the finals, Tiafoe posed many questions, but did not have quite enough answers, losing, 7-5, 6-4.
This was Tiafoe’s third trip to a final, his one title coming three years ago in Delray Beach.
“You are one of the most talented players,” Zverev said to Tiafoe following the match. “I don’t want you to be just Top 30. I want you in the Top 10. As tennis stands these days, tennis needs you.” (Watch both speeches below.)