"Try to get some good popcorn matches in": Frances Tiafoe aims for next step in tennis career in 2024

Frances Tiafoe expresses his hope that 2024 will be the year he takes a significant step forward on the ATP Tour and becomes a prominent figure in major tournaments. The American will kick off his season at the ATP 250 Hong Kong Open, where he is the third seed, as part of his preparation for the 2024 Australian Open.

So far, Tiafoe has won three tournaments, all ATP 250 events, two of them in 2023. In April, he clinched the title at the Houston Open by defeating the Argentine Tomas Etcheverry in the final (7-6, 7-6). Two months later, he secured the trophy at the Stuttgart Open on grass, overcoming local player Jan-Lennard Struff in the final (4-6, 7-6, 7-6): “The last couple of seasons have been pretty good, definitely in the right direction,” said the world No. 16.

'Big Foe' mentioned that he is ready to pursue greater success on the Tour: “It's excitement. I'm going to be 26 this year in a little bit and I'm ready to kinda take that next step. The last couple of seasons have been pretty good, definitely in the right direction,” Tiafoe said in Hong Kong.

“I feel good, ready to go. Obviously, every tournament you play you want to win it, but I want to get some matches in, play well and try to get some good popcorn matches in,” Tiafoe added. “It's always good to see where you're at early in the year, test the waters out. It's a real tough field, I see a lot of good names here.”

In Hong Kong, he faces a tough main draw with competitors such as world No. 5 Andrey Rublev, No. 14 Karen Khachanov, and the Argentine No. 21 Francisco Cerundolo. Tiafoe will start the tournament with a bye as the third seed and will debut in the second round against the winner between Miomir Kecmanovic and a qualifier.