Jannik
Sinner had a tense encounter with Frances Tiafoe at the 2021 Vienna Open, which
ended with the Italian criticizing his rival for being ‘disrespectful’ during
the match. The World No. 1 leads the head-to-head against the American 3-1, and
they will meet again tonight in the Cincinnati Open final.
The two
players first faced each other in October 2019, when an 18-year-old Sinner
defeated a 21-year-old Tiafoe at the European Open. A couple of weeks later,
the Italian repeated the win against Big-Foe, this time at the Next Gen ATP
Finals, where Sinner went on to become the champion.
Sinner’s past criticism of Tiafoe's tactics
However,
the real controversy came in 2021 when both were well-established on the Tour,
with Sinner ranked World No. 13 and Tiafoe No. 48. The American had surpassed
the qualifiers and made an unexpected run to the final, defeating the 7th seed
Sinner after a great comeback.
Read also
It seemed
like an easy victory for Sinner, who led 6-3, 5-3 and had the serve to close
out the match. However, Tiafoe began to take his time to get into position,
interacted with the crowd by clapping hands, and even talked while Sinner was
preparing to serve, helping him later to secure the win by 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 and
advance to the final.
“In my
opinion, today Tiafoe went too far, has done too much,” Jannik Sinner said
after the match. “It is one thing when the player tries to put on a bit of a
show, but it is quite another when you start to disrespect.”
When asked
about the match, Tiafoe commented: “I don’t really feel bad for that,” he
responded. “Look, I mean the crowd is there for a reason. I’m able to interact
with them, I’m able to do whatever.”
Sinner aims for a final win tonight in Cincinnati.
“I don’t
feel bad for that. I think he definitely had a chance to win the match
regardless. I used them to get on my side, and I started playing great tennis,
but ultimately I was just having fun out there, and it went my way.”
However,
Tiafoe added that they have a good relationship off the court and that he saw
Sinner's great potential as a player from the beginning: “I mean, when I played
Jannik in the Next Gen Finals and Antwerp back in 2019, I looked to my guys and
said, ‘This guy is going to be a Grand Slam champion,’” he continued.
“He’s going
to be on top of the game for a long time. We get along really well. I have
nothing but respect for that guy, how he goes about his process each and every
day. Well-coached with [Riccardo] Piatti, super humble guy for how young he is
and everything he’s accomplished so far,” Tiafoe added.
“Tonight, the result
was the result, but he’s got a great team behind him, he has a great work
ethic, he does everything right, he’s gonna win Grand Slams for sure. How many
I don’t know, but he’s going to have a hell of a career and probably be a Hall
of Famer at the end of it.”
On Sunday,
both players secured their places in the Cincinnati Open final, ensuring their
fifth meeting. Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev, and Frances Tiafoe overcame
Holger Rune, both enduring third-set tiebreaks before securing their spots in
the final.
After
Tiafoe secured his first Masters 1000 final, he was asked if he thought Sinner
would be the favourite in Monday’s final: “Absolutely, for sure he is, right?
He’s lost like [five] matches all year? He’s the favourite in every match he
plays, no question about it. You’ve got to tip your hat to a guy like him,”
Big-Foe commented on court.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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