THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30, 2025

Frances Tiafoe

Press Conference

F. TIAFOE/E. Moller

6-3, 6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How do you find being the first match on on the first day of a slam, especially with the start being 11:00 a.m.? Do you like to have a bit more prep time in the morning, time for breakfast, or do you like the fact of the idea of just getting it out of the way?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I don't like playing at 11:00 at all. You try and trick yourself into saying how much you love it. It's a weird time, especially to get ready for three out of five.

But when you have a quick match like you have today at 1:00, you're done. Yeah, I mean, it's good things and bad things to it. But yeah, just got to get ready and get it going.

I kind of called it that I was going to play at 11:00. I just had a feeling about it.

Q. Do you watch back short highlights of your matches, and do you feel like they give a fair reflection of matches, or do you ever watch back and think, Oh, I thought I played better than that or worse than that?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I watch myself play a lot. Just kind of inspect things, break down matches and stuff like that.

Yeah, I mean, it's usually about right. Usually what I see back is usually about right how I feel about it or how I assessed it.

Q. Do you sort of ever think about hot shots and that sort of thing like, Oh, this will be -- I'm looking forward to this?

FRANCES TIAFOE: In a real match? Yeah, yeah. If you hit a really good shot, you're, like, Yeah, that's going to look good. Yeah, for sure, 100%.

But, I mean, those just come naturally. You don't want to try to make it happen.

Q. Speaking of your playing style, I feel like people don't really talk about your level of power, which I feel has been increasing a lot, especially today and this season. Have you been working on that a lot with David recently, or does it just happen or it just depends on the day?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I'm glad you say that, because a lot of people don't classify me as a big hitter or nothing like that, or a creative player, a lot of people don't classify me as. Yeah, I mean, I can definitely pump the ball for sure.

They want me to definitely do it more, and I do. Sometimes I can kind of -- I don't hit the ball as hard as I can at times, kind of just work the point a little too much. I think now guys are just hitting the ball so big, so you want to match tempo and just let it all out, so yeah.

Q. 1975 Arthur Ashe became the first African-American man to --

FRANCES TIAFOE: I already know. I already know. I'm up-to-date. I'm up-to-date.

Q. With what did the 50th anniversary and Arthur's legacy mean to you?

FRANCES TIAFOE: For sure, it would be a good one. It would be a good one to do it, for sure. I mean, I've been knocking on the door of these things for a while, but I mean, no added pressure or anything, but it would be nice to do it here.

But, yeah, I mean, I definitely want to be a part of that, but also I just want to get one. If it's here, great. If it's in the future, great. But this one would be incredible to win for that reason.

Q. And your thoughts about Arthur and what he's meant?

FRANCES TIAFOE: He's a legend. He's a legend. Total icon on and off the court. Everything he meant, it was way bigger than him. It wasn't just about him. Always paying it forward.

You know, did a lot of things with action and not just talking. He's a true role model, man, and a very, very similar situation to mine for sure.

Q. I want to ask about Moller, his backhand. At the French Open he hits his backhand harder than --

FRANCES TIAFOE: He has the best backhand that I've ever played against for sure.

Q. What was that like to face?

FRANCES TIAFOE: It was weird. It was like -- I don't know how to explain it. He hit like a deep return with his backhand, and he is rifling it. I'm, like, All right, you don't have that. Then he does it again and again. I'm like, All right, I guess you do have that.

For a guy -- I mean, he's not that tall, nor that strong when you look at him, and he can absolutely just rocket the backhand. So when you watch it on tape, you're, like, Okay, but when you see it live, you're like, Man, that's a good shot.

Yeah, I mean, he's a good player. He is young. That's a great weapon he has.

Q. The scouting report about him pre-match already about the backhand?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, but sometimes it's too good.

Q. How does it feel to be part of this great American men's generation with Tommy, Taylor, Paul? And also, where do you think the peak of you guys will be?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I mean, we've been peaking. It's just a matter of doing it.

Me and Taylor, we played in the semis of a slam last year. Ben made semis of slams. Tommy has made semis of slams. Fritz made a final I think. It's just a matter of getting it done.

Again, I really feel like we continue to put ourselves in those positions, we're going to get it done. I really feel like I can. It's a matter of putting it together.

But I think, yeah, we're definitely peaking. I think now it's just about trying to finish.

Q. In the NBA, NFL, a lot of people say, hey, the level just gets higher and higher. The athletes just get better and better. A lot of people saw the French final and said, Geez, you know, these guys are really taking it to a new level, even beyond what the big three were doing. You don't buy it? Comment. Do you think --

FRANCES TIAFOE: I live in nostalgia in all sports. I mean, I wouldn't go that far. Everyone was getting -- look, it was an incredible final. It was one of the best finals I've ever seen, but I'm not about to toot guys' horns that I need to go and beat to win a majors. I'm not doing that.

Respectfully, it was an incredible final. They gave everything they had. No bathroom breaks. The whole thing was top-class. Total respect for both guys and for each other and how they went and battled and the respect they had after, incredible.

Growing up and seeing, I mean, Federer-Rafa, Wimbledon final, Novak-Rafa. I don't know, it just feels different. It just seemed at a better level, but that was an incredible final. Yeah, I don't know what to say.

Q. Frances, how has your relationship with David evolved now that you are settled in? Do you get something different from him the longer you've been working together? What has that been like this year I guess compared to when you guys first started?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I mean, you know, obviously last year was very, very tough. He started with me at a time when I was not having a good season. I'm still coming off hurting my knee here last year. I was starting with a little bit of momentum. Then we had a great end to last year.

So obviously we didn't -- we weren't able to capitalize the beginning of the year like we wanted to, but I've had some good firsts with him. First 1000s final with him. Deepest run of the French with him just now.

So we're very, very similar. We're really competitive, and obviously we are really light-hearted, but we want to win.

I think the biggest thing he's kind of added is for me to continue to play my way, whether confident or not. It can turn around any week.

Just coming forward and putting pressure on guys and shortening the points, I think that's kind of the biggest thing he has really wanted me to do and use that part of my game. Sometimes I don't and try to rely on my speed to be reactive rather than proactive. I think that's kind of the biggest thing he adds and wants me to do more and more.

Q. What was it like, the conditions on the court? A lot has been made about the heat at Wimbledon this year.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, the ball was coming through quick. I mean, it was definitely moving faster than it has been. The court was a bit slower, but balls were coming through quick, because it was so hot, obviously.

I prefer that. I prefer the faster, the better. It helps me so my backhand stays low, I'm serving well, I can get free points and shorter points. So I like that.

Q. Just to follow up on that, you've played in hotter places around the world, but how did it feel to you out there? Was it particularly hot? Was this not a big deal?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Honestly, I didn't feel that hot out there. It was hot. I was sweating, but I didn't really feel like it was that hot, you know. I don't know if that was me kind of going in mentally being, like, Yeah, it's not hot, it's cold. Yeah, I really didn't feel that hot.

I don't know if wearing all white really helps as well, but I didn't really feel that hot. You know, I'm sure after this and I go to City Open and play in D.C. with the humidity there, that's going -- there's no faking that. It's going to be really (expletive) hot. Sorry. It's going to be really hot, yeah.

Q. Just want to ask if you noticed at all or what you thought of the fact that there are no more line judges here? Did it feel any different? Did it strike you that way while you were playing?

FRANCES TIAFOE: No, to be honest. No. Actually I totally forgot about that until you said it. I think it makes a bigger difference on Centre Court. Like, you know, them calling and stuff. I actually totally forgot about that.

Q. All the other slams start on Sundays. US Open will as well. This is the only one that starts Monday. Does that make any difference to the fact that it's a big day straight away? The Sunday can start a little bit like a slower start?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, it's a Catch-22 there. I mean, playing on Sunday and having two days off is not great. I don't love that. But Sunday you win, and it kind of feels nice. But Sunday you lose and you are, like, Damn.

But I guess I don't like the two days. I would rather take the two days later than earlier, if that makes sense. But, yeah, I mean, obviously -- but then again, yesterday I was telling David, I was, like, It would be great to play today. I didn't really feel like practicing yesterday. I was just like, If you're not ready by now, you're kind of screwed anyway.

I mean, I get it. Why not? If you can make money on a day and get the guys out there, and we're already all here anyway. It's kind of a dead day. Sunday a lot of guys have off. It's not a bad thing, but the two days off that early in a slam, it's a little weird.

Q. Something you said when you were talking about Alcaraz-Sinner, you were impressed that there were no bathroom breaks. Why did that add to the mystique of that match?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Because that would not happen with me. If I played 5 hours and 29 minutes, I'm going to the bath -- I'm taking every bathroom break possible. I'm going to ask for another one. I mean, I'm changing. I would probably use 35 shirts.

It was cool that day, I get it, but they were going full throttle hitting, torquing balls from corner to corner, no bathroom breaks. That was crazy. I couldn't imagine, like, just being on the court for 6 hours. That's pretty wild.

Q. It's something you respect when an opponent or a player you are watching doesn't take a break?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I don't know if I respect it. I kind of applaud it because it just wouldn't be me (smiling). I just couldn't. I just could not do that. I wouldn't be able to play.

But, yeah, when you watch entertainment, it's constant, right? Sometimes I know that can be, like, a little annoying for the fans, you come off court and whatever. Sometimes you got to deal with it.

Q. How many shirts did you go through today?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I'm going to say four or five. Not too bad. I was ready for whatever.

Q. Just a follow-up about the linespeople. What's your preference, to have him or to have the machines?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I mean, I think probably -- honestly I think keep them. I actually like with them on the court, because I think for fanfare it's better.

If I were to hit a serve on a big point, you go up with the challenge, is it in, is it out? The crowd is, like, Oh. There's none of that.

If I hit a good serve now and they call it out, you may still think it's in, but it doesn't matter. I think that kind of kills.

I think the ref kind of gets out of play. At one point the ref was -- I'm hitting a serve, and he was calling about, like, towels. I'm, like, Yo. I mean, you saw that. I was, like, Yo, get the phone up at 15-Love.

It takes him completely out of play. Other than just calling the score and calling time violations, but it is what it is.