Frances Tiafoe

Press Conference

F. TIAFOE/F. Cobolli

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Frances, congratulations. This one probably feels especially good, given the match you guys played in Acapulco.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, for sure. It's always nice to get a bounce-back win, especially against a guy who just beat you literally a week ago, probably.

So it was actually a great turnaround, obviously a big turnaround, but happy to get through.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You are sponsored by Lululemon. They're now the title sponsor of apparel at this tournament, and they went all out. What has it been like being around the grounds with a sponsor that's sort of, it's like they have gone into tennis and they went in full, like hard?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's been great to be a part of it, as well, obviously all the things they have been doing with me. You know, they were super excited to have me and also grow with me and get more into the game.

Obviously you see it here, all the staff and everyone wearing it. My outfit is selling out, they said. The getup is great. All the outfits they have been making are super innovative. It's just been really cool.

I think Lulu is getting extremely cool and casual people want to wear it, obviously people want to wear it just working out, whatever the case may be. Cutaways and the whole vibe is super cool and super trendy.

Happy to be a part of it. We have a long tenure, and I'm excited to see where we continue to go.

Q. I wanted to turn back to last week and ask you about what it was like to play not just against Kova but to play against David Witt. Was that a weird experience for you?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, it was great, it was great. I think my emotion probably after it was probably more just to pump up and send D. Witt home (smiling).

Me and David are super close. Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, we talk football during football season nonstop. Even after it, we have a really, really great relationship.

Obviously it sucks, you know, I made the decision I did, because personally I really, really rate him. I think he's a great guy, we were on a team, we had a great relationship.

Obviously you have seen the great things he's been doing with Kova. Kova's been playing great. Great start in Australia and then a couple great wins here, and easily could have beat me.

But it was great, and he still brings it up. He's definitely still salty about that, which is great.

Q. We know you love playing at US Open where there is a lot of kind of noise and background chatter. Do you ever find that distracting, or do you find it almost harder when it's quiet and then suddenly there's noise?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I would like constant noise, I mean, constant noise and kind of tennis background noise. When it's super quiet and there's no -- it was like today was kind of quiet, and there was someone in the crowd with a walkie talkie talking, I was super annoyed.

But, you know, you go to the NBA games, soccer games, whatever the case may be, there's so much noise. Even as a fan you don't even notice it because you're into the game and whatever.

Tennis is getting more and more like that. Obviously I think the umps are letting it go a little more, tournaments are trying to let it go more. I think the Open is uncontrollable. It's the best.

Q. How important is it as a player to be able to hear the shots you're making with your timing and that kind of thing?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I think it matters, because the way you react to a ball, you know, if it hit really big off a guy's racquet, you know it's coming big, and I think that matters. I think regardless, you're going to hear it, you know, you're so dialed in on the task at hand.

But yeah, I mean, it's a little catch and go.

Q. You mentioned the Open, and a lot of players talk to me and they say it's great to play at home but there is a little bit of pressure. When I watch you play at the Open and even here, to an extent, I feel like you don't maybe feel that pressure, you just feel the positives. Is there something in you that helps you in those environments?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I think it's only positives, right? Obviously you're home, you're comfortable. I mean, I'm renting a house out here, I'm chilling, got my team, super relaxed, all the restaurants I like, all the people I like. It's super calm.

This is fun. It's fun to play here. Obviously in New York it's fun. I have close family and friends who come out, tons of energy. I always play later in the day too normally. You get kind of all day to rest and get ready for the show at night.

It's fun, man, because a lot of times we spend a lot of time in Europe and away from home. I like to be back in the States and put on a show and try to be elite.

Q. How does it feel playing on these faster Indian Wells courts for you?

FRANCES TIAFOE: You see my last two matches? It was damn great. I'm happy. I'm happy the courts are a little faster. Normally, it seems like a little grittier and definitely slower and high bounce. It's right in the pocket and moving pretty good. For me and my game, it's helping me much more than it has in years past.

I've always found it was a little too slow for me. Of course I had one great year in '23, but outside of that, I haven't played so, so well here. But this year, they're going a little faster has definitely helped me.

Q. Talk about facing Sascha the next round, challenges of facing him and what's possible for you here to make another run at Indian Wells.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, excited. Some matches you work for, it's great. Obviously, he's one of the better servers out here, so the biggest thing is to take care of my score and put scoreboard pressure.

Go ahead and compete. I mean, I'm just excited for the battle. You know, I mean, he's definitely a great player and so am I, and two guys kind of going at it. We'll see. I think the past results don't really have effect. Just go out and go out and believe in it and execute.

Q. Obviously there was an issue with the shot clock a while ago. How do you find it now? Do you still find there are times when you feel like it's rushing you and not being enforced?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Depends on the ref I get (smiling). Some people have quicker hands than others. I think they're doing better. I think they're easing up on me with what happened a few years ago.

But, I mean, I think some people just have a quicker hand than others. That's kind of what it is. Shot clock is the shot clock. You know, maybe something that's going to be, have to be a little more cognizant of it. I like to be on CP time normally (smiling).