"There's a bunch of guys who can be that guy, right?" - Frances Tiafoe 'motivated' to challenge Sinner and Alcaraz after 'average' 2025 campaign

Frances Tiafoe was one of America's brightest stars a couple of years ago. Reaching a best of number 10 in the world, he made the semi-finals of the US Open in 2022 and 2024, along with achieving his first Masters 1000 final last year. However, he has failed to carry that rich vein of form into 2025.

His career peaked in last year's US Open, he was 2-1 up against Taylor Fritz in the semi-final. Unfortunately, he could not get over the line and reach his first Grand Slam final. Since then, he has made just one major quarter-final, surprisingly in Roland Garros. He was knocked out in the opening rounds in the other three events, as his two year title drought prolongs.

His poor form was shown to the whole world at Flushing Meadows recently, when he was dumped out by qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets. Most recently, he has failed to progress in the Japan Open, being pegged back by world number 58 Marton Fucsovics.

In an interview with Olympics.com, he admitted that he was not on the same level that he once was, stating that he has played 'nervous' this year, which has seen him plummet to 29th in the world.

"Average at best. I lost a lot of tough ones, struggled to put matches together like the three, four in a row that you kind of need to sit on top of the game. And I didn't have a couple of big results that I normally have every year. I have a chance to end strong and put some things together. But ultimately, it's been a very up-and-down year.

“A year ago, I was one set away from making the (US Open) final. I think from that point you gotta keep standing. Not playing with enough hunger. You gotta prove it each and every week in tennis, and I think that's something I haven't been doing. This year, I played nervous. Not at the level I’m capable of.”

While 2025 may have been troublesome, it is not over yet, with Tiafoe targeting a redemption arc that shifts him onto the right path heading into 2026. While his Asian swing has not commenced brilliantly, there is still plenty of time with some big events on the horizon, including the Shanghai Masters.

“You can expect a different version. A version that’s yes, he's going to be a smiling guy, but he's going to be going to be there f***ing about it and hopefully, hopefully, that gets me to where I'm trying to go," he said. "I’m just trying to gain all the good habits for next year. Next year, I want to have one of the best seasons that I've ever had, and I want to start now. I want to start playing the right way, be tough week in, week out.

“I got a window. The game's open, I got a window, I've got the capability and the biggest thing probably to being consistent is just be obsessed."

He has piled the pressure onto himself to show the results his is capable of achieving. Despite this, he took a moment to admit that he is still in a fantastic position, and maybe he takes being number 29 in the world for granted.

“The biggest thing is, what's so great about this sport is, I have control over it. I think that's the light at the end of the tunnel for me - where I want to be and where I am currently is all my decision. I put myself in the position I currently am in. The biggest thing when you're going through tough times is to understand that it's temporary and it's not permanent. But ultimately, from the perspective of no matter how bad it is, it’s really never as bad as it seems. I still wish I were in this position. Me being 29th in the world - as a kid, I’d dream of that, right? So it’s like these are small problems in the grand scheme of things. Just get to work, get to work.”

Both Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have dominated the sport these past two years, with the last eight Grand Slam titles being split between the pair. Apart from when they clash on the court, you get very few matches where they look beatable, breezing past opponents with ease.

Tiafoe has challenged this claim, believing that he could be the one to join the party, having seen multiple players go toe-to-toe with the greats in the past, which motivates him to get to that level some day in the distant future.

“There's a couple more guys who've got to join them. I'm not saying beat them, but there's got to be (other) guys - and that motivates me," said Tiafoe. “I’m like, yo, who's that third guy? Who's that fourth guy? Novak (Djokovic) doesn't count. He’s 40. I love him, but doesn't count. He’s 40. He's a GOAT, he's the best player of all time. He's not with those guys.

“Who is that other guy or two to be there and maybe beat these guys? That would be the quote-unquote Novak and (Andy) Murray - before Novak went and did what he did. Who are those guys? And there's a bunch of guys who can be that guy, right? So that's really motivating me. It's like, ‘See big picture.’ That's motivating.”

He stated that he is more comparable to Alcaraz than Sinner. “Everyone's puzzle looks different, everyone's style looks different. But the biggest thing is the intensity they’re playing at, how fast they’re playing at. With Jannik, you know what product you're going to get from him every single day. Alcaraz is more similar to me, as in the flashier talent or whatever, but still, his effort and what he brings out is the same every day. If I can get more of that, bring in a high-intensity effort to practise, I’ll be all right.”