Frances Tiafoe was far from pleased with the Canadian Open's schedule change after the organization – in conjunction with the ATP – decided to extend the tournament's duration from 7 to 12 days. The tournament final is curiously scheduled for a Tuesday, a peculiar situation that deviates from the usual Sunday finals.
This tournament, taking place in Toronto, marked the change, in accordance with the Cincinnati Open which will begin immediately after and will have its final on Sunday.
The American is already traveling to Toronto after starting the hardcourt swing at the DC Open, where he reached the quarterfinals before falling to compatriot Ben Shelton.
Tiafoe, 27, will look to improve his past performances at the Canadian Open, where he fell in the first round in the last two editions and has never made it past the third round in his six appearances, holding a 5-6 record so far.
After his exit in the Washington quarterfinals, Tiafoe is already looking ahead to the upcoming Masters 1000, which began its first round this Sunday. The American entered as the 7th seed and is still awaiting the start of his participation in the tournament and to learn his opponent, having received a first-round bye. His opponent will be the winner between Daniel Altmaier and Yusuke Watanuki (a qualifier).
"It is what it is. I like that it’s a bit shorter than Madrid, Rome. Weird because the final is on a Thursday. That’s garbage,” he said. "But yeah, I mean, I guess I’m ready to get going and see how that goes. The 10-day events are tough, but I think it will be easier since I’m so close to the States. Something goes wrong, I’m a quick flight home.
“It’s not like when I’m stuck in Europe and playing on red clay and people speaking different languages and s—. It’s better to kind of be in the States, so for sure, I’m really happy. Hopefully put up some good results going into the Open. That’s kind of what matters."
Tiafoe reflects on Shelton loss, eyes crucial American swing
"Big Foe" was having a good tournament at the DC Open, with consecutive wins over Aleksandar Kovacevic and Flavio Cobolli (9th seed). The American reached the quarterfinals, where he faced fellow countryman Ben Shelton, falling in straight sets and bidding farewell to the tournament in his home state.
“We know tennis is a long journey. We’re going to play each other a bunch of times. Especially, we’ve already played on hard courts, we’ve already played twice at the US Open, and he beat me the most recent time. It’s tough not to cheer for a guy like that.”
Tiafoe now has a significant number of points to defend. While he fell in the first round of the Canadian Open in 2024, he had his best performance in Cincinnati, reaching the tournament final – the first and only Masters 1000 final he has reached – but ultimately falling to Jannik Sinner.
Weeks later, he reached the quarterfinals of the US Open – this time falling to compatriot Taylor Fritz in a 5-set battle. The former top-10 player risks falling outside the top 30 if he fails to repeat his good results from recent years in the American hardcourt swing, although he left good impressions in DC.
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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