US Open competitors ‘foaming at the mouth’ describes Frances Tiafoe

Frances Tiafoe sees the hunger in the US Open draw with the absence of players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem.

The exciting American went out of the tournament to another North American star in Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, losing to the 21-year-old in four sets.

But, during his run in New York, Tiafoe has certainly noticed the drive from his fellow players to take advantage of the open draw.

“You don’t have Roger (Federer), Rafa (Nadal),” Tiafoe explained in his post-match press conference after losing to Auger-Aliassime. “Guys are hungry, guys are like, ‘the F***ing Open, I gotta f***ing push.’ So I think that has definitely a part to play in it.

“I definitely think guys are trying extra hard, because there is no Roger, Rafa. I truly believe that. I see guys foaming at the mouth, pretty funny to watch. I’m in the locker room cracking up.”

The men’s draw has seen a number of surprises coming through the opening rounds. Three qualifiers have reached the last 16 in New York, Oscar Otte, Peter Gojowczyk and Botic van de Zandschulp, who has made the quarter-finals.

Jenson Brooksby is also through as a wildcard to face Novak Djokovic for a place in the quarter-finals. Otte also beat out tour veteran Andreas Seppi, someone Tiafoe mentioned specifically in his press conference.

“You have Seppi, like 37 (years old), playing 15-13 in the fifth. What’s that about? Crazy.

“His 19th time in New York, he’s putting his heart on the line. He’s probably not doing that if he plays Rafa the second round, probably, like, ‘I’m done.’ It’s unreal.”

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