"So darn good" but not top 5 yet: Roger Federer's former coach urges Frances Tiafoe to find balance
ATP
Frances Tiafoe has powered into the French Open quarter-finals without dropping a set, but one of tennis's most respected voices believes the American still has work to do.
Paul Annacone, former coach of Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, praised Tiafoe's ability to rise to the occasion. However, he warned that the 26-year-old must address the inconsistencies in his game if he wants to break into the top five.
Speaking to Tennis Channel, Annacone said: "I just think he is a huge big-time player at the big moments. He loves this stage, and I think his hardest problem, or his biggest challenge, is trying to have that balance where the chasm between good and bad isn’t so vast.".
Tiafoe has hit his stride in Paris, showing a level of poise and precision that has caught many by surprise. The Maryland native has played with sharp focus and renewed confidence; an impressive turnaround given the inconsistency that has marked much of his 2024 season.
Since his second-round exit at the Australian Open, Tiafoe has struggled with consistency, enduring two first-round losses and six second-round departures. This recent surge in form has left many fans wondering why he hasn’t been able to sustain this level more regularly.
Annacone, however, remains confident in Tiafoe’s potential to rank among the world’s elite.
“When he plays like that, I think that’s when he’s a top-five player. When he doesn’t do that he’s going to be between eight and 20 anyway because he’s so darn good. What’s clicked is the equilibrium between the mental and physical stuff. You don’t see Frances Tiafoe winning four matches in straight sets in majors very often. He’s been really good mentally, he needs to stay on that track."
Up next for Tiafoe is Lorenzo Musetti in what will be their sixth career meeting. It is also their first matchup of 2025.
Tiafoe leads the head-to-head 4–3, although Musetti won their only meeting on clay at the 2023 Italian Open. The American, however, has won their last two encounters and will come in with confidence.
Match Info:
Lorenzo Musetti - Frances Tiafoe
Start time (local): Tue, 3 Jun, 1:20 PM
Start time (your time): Tue, 3 Jun, 7:20 PM
Court: Court Philippe Chatrier
Tournament: Roland Garros
Round: Quarterfinal
Head-to-Head
| Musetti | Tiafoe | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 3 | 4 |
| Win Streak | 0 | 2 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 7 | 16 |
| Race Ranking | 5 | 23 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 6 (+1) | 13 (+3) |
| Live Race Ranking | 5 (+1) | 23 (+17) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 23 (3 Mar 2002) | 27 (20 Jan 1998) |
| Birthplace | Carrara, Tuscany, Italy | Hyattsville, Maryland, US |
| Residence | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Orlando, Florida, US |
| Height | 6'0" (183cm) | 6'2" (188cm) |
| Weight | 165lbs (75kg) | 190lbs (86kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | - | 2015 |
| Coach | Simone Tartarini | David Witt (July 2024-), |
| YTD W/L | 24-7 (77%) | 15-12 (56%) |
| YTD Titles | - | - |
| Career Titles | 2 | 3 |
| Prize Money | US $9,385,488 | US $13,474,884 - 62nd all-time in earnings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
F Tiafoe d L Musetti ATP Cincinnati - Round of 326-3 | 6-2 14 Aug 2024 |
||
|
F Tiafoe d L Musetti ATP Stuttgart - Quarterfinal6-7 | 7-6 | 6-2 16 Jun 2023 |
||
|
L Musetti d F Tiafoe ATP Rome - Round of 325-7 | 6-4 | 6-3 15 May 2023 |
||
|
F Tiafoe d L Musetti United Cup - Final6-2 | 0-0 8 Jan 2023 |
||
|
L Musetti d F Tiafoe ATP Acapulco - Round of 162-6 | 6-3 | 7-6 18 Mar 2021 |
||
|
F Tiafoe d L Musetti ATP Challenger Parma - Round of 166-3 | 3-6 | 6-3 7 Oct 2020 |
||
|
L Musetti d F Tiafoe ATP Challenger Forli - Round of 166-4 | 5-7 | 6-2 23 Sep 2020 |
||
This will likely be their most high-profile clash, with a place in the Roland Garros semi-finals at stake. Both players are enjoying their deepest runs at the tournament.
If Tiafoe continues his strong form, he could make an even bigger breakthrough. The winner of this match will face either Carlos Alcaraz or Tommy Paul in the semi-finals.
Tiafoe’s raw talent is clear. The question now is whether he can keep building on it, not just in Paris, but throughout the season.
Sean Killen is a contributing journalist for both DartsNews.com and Tennisuptodate.com, where he balances his university studies with writing news updates, player features, and match reports across both sports.
Before joining the sites, Sean built experience across student and professional media. He serves as TV News Director for Cardiff University TV (CUTV), has reported for Gair Rhydd and The Cardiff Times, and produced viral news coverage that gained international attention. His reporting spans sports, breaking news, and human-interest features, and he’s worked across platforms including print, online, radio, and video.
Sean has followed the ATP and WTA tennis tours closely for years, with a growing interest in darts through the Premier League and World Championship circuits. He brings a sharp eye for storytelling, a commitment to accuracy, and a passion for making niche sports accessible to wider audiences.
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