Frances Tiafoe: ‘I have proven I am capable of winning a Grand Slam’
Frances Tiafoe says he has proven he can win a Grand Slam after his US Open run was ended in the semi-finals by Carlos Alcaraz.
The American has long been tipped to be a top player but he has struggled to make that breakthrough. That has all changed now.
Alcaraz was able to eventually beat Tiafoe 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 in a five-set thriller, but Tiafoe feels he has made his point – especially to himself.
“I mean, I just proved that honestly,” Tiafoe said of his run at the US Open. “I mean, I can play with the best obviously, and I’m capable of winning Grand Slams.
“I think everyone knew when I play my best what I could do. But you know how close I can actually be to be one of those guys and to do this consistently.
“Obviously through my career I’ve been pretty sporadic of playing well, veering off for a while. I’ve always backed myself against the best players in the world. I’m doing it on a consistent basis, starting to beat guys more readily. Ready to take the next step.
“I think rankings right now are honestly just a number. I really don’t care what anyone I’m playing. I feel like I can win any match.
The level that Frances Tiafoe produced would have surely been enough to beat the vast majority of players, but he was up against an inspired Carlos Alcaraz, who appears to have found a new level himself at the US Open.
“Yeah, I mean, I think it’s going to be very tough to play him,” Tiafoe said. “He’s one of the best players in the world, for sure.
“He’s so young. He hits the ball so hard. I never played a guy who moves as well as him, honestly. I’ve seen him get a lot of balls, but I was hitting some drop volleys that I’ve been hitting. He’s getting there. How he’s able to extend points, incredible.
“He’s a hell of a player. He’s going to be a problem for a very long time.
“Again, I mean, I still had my looks. I still had my chances, so it shows where I’m at. But, you know, for him to be so young, being so poised in big moments, I take my hat off and I got a lot of respect for him.”
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