Me vs. Me: Frances Tiafoe brings gratitude, joy to US Open swing in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI—Frances Tiafoe stands out in a crowded field of American talents and “Big Foe” brought his box office energy to the Cincinnati in style on Tuesday, pulling off a thrilling tiebreaker to defeat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 6-3, 7-6 (6).

“I think playing here in Cincy, it’s one of the best crowds we have here in America,” Tiafoe said fresh off Grandstand court. “They really get behind all the American players, especially me!”

“We started at 12:30 and had a fully packed crowd, so that’s incredible.”

Playing at high noon, the former world No. 10 shook off three match point misses in the second set and saved a set point in the ensuing Sudden Death, reeling off the final three points against the enigmatic Spaniard.

“He never goes away,” said Tiafoe. “He’s going to make you earn it. He’s really streaky. There are times when he’s playing pretty poorly and other times when he’s really up with his level and taking it to you. So, you’ve got to always be pretty solid.”

Tiafoe was solid off the ground, flipping a regrettable serving day—making just 39% of his first serves—into an chance to talk up his return.

“Returning and breaking more is something I’ve been trying to focus on,” Tiafoe told Prakash Amritraj at the Tennis Channel Live Desk, emphasizing his work with new coach David Witt.

“He’s very experienced,” he said of Witt, who is coming off a successful longterm partnership with former world No. 3 Jessica Pegula. “He did an incredible job with Venus and Serena, and did an unbelievable job with Jess. He was open and I was obviously looking for some time. Our personalities kind of fit: he’s super easy-going, gives short but quality information. He doesn’t try to over-coach. So, it’s been super breezy right away. We’re both a little weird in a way, saying off the rail jokes. But it’s been an incredible partnership so far, and I’m happy he’s on board.”

It’s kind of how you look at the glass, man. I have the opportunity to make people feel good and to turn my season around. It’s me vs. me, really, it’s not really about my opponent. It’s all about being out there and giving my best. Frances Tiafoe

The 26-year-old needed a reset after a middling 18 months followed his run to the 2022 US Open semifinals. In danger of getting surpassed by the likes of Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, and younger talents Sebastian Korda and Ben Shelton, he found a lifeline on Wimbledon’s Centre Court—“the second-best court in tennis” behind Arthur Ashe Stadium, according to Tiafoe—where he pushed eventual champ Carlos Alcaraz to five sets.

Taking that form back to the States, he reached the quarters and semifinals in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. to find himself in fine form in time for a possible second-round encounter with Olympic bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti in Cincinnati.

With momentum comes a renewed perspective for the fan (and celebrity) favorite, one that favors optimism over focus on missed opportunities.

“I’m packing stadiums and just having fun,” Tiafoe told me. “It’s kind of how you look at the glass, man. I have the opportunity to make people feel good and to turn my season around. It’s me vs. me, really, it’s not really about my opponent. It’s all about being out there and giving my best.

“I have an understanding where I have gratitude for the game and for the sport, and going out to do what I do best, play the game I love. I try to take the expectations out of it; I play this game for free, so I try to think like that and not worry too much about what other people think of me or want me to do.”

Having rediscovered his own joy, the game’s most charismatic star appears poised to put on a few more shows between now and the US Open.