US OPEN

August 29, 2025

Frances Tiafoe

Press Conference

J.L. STRUFF/F. Tiafoe

6-4, 6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Can you say a word about how the game unfolded and about your opponent. Were you surprised by the way he played?

FRANCES TIAFOE: No, obviously he's a hell of a player. He's been highly ranked. He played well today. Served pretty well. His percentage wasn't so high, but he served pretty well, especially early in games. So it was kind of tough to get my feet in games.

I just thought Grandstand was super quick today and having to have rallies was very, very tough. I was late on a lot of balls, just scrubbing them to be on offense, and he was dictating play most of the time. The match was always kind of on his racquet. I had a little window there when he just gave me some gifts. I didn't take it.

But, you know, I played extremely passive today. I didn't put any pressure on him at all.

Q. Aside from the level that he was obviously playing, do you have any regrets yourself that you weren't more aggressive? Do you know why you weren't?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Well, I just think it was a court thing. I think actually Louis played much better for me. It was very, very fast today. Last time I played, it wasn't -- I mean, I didn't have many rallies. So it was kind of hard to kind of see how fast the court was moving.

But today he was returning so big into me first couple of shots. You know, it was very, very tough. I was late on everything. I thought I still had some looks to be aggressive and take charge a little bit, and I just didn't.

You know, it's going to be hard to swallow how I played today and being out of the US Open, for sure, this early.

Q. Did you get the chance to warm up or practice a lot on Grandstand this week? What was your expectation of how quick the court would be?

FRANCES TIAFOE: No, I just practiced one time, early in the week, practicing on either front few courts or Louis. But, I mean, I've got to tip my hat to him. He made me feel very, very comfortable and I didn't do a very good job of adjusting. It is what it is. I've got to swallow it. Very, very tough.

Q. How do you bounce back mentally now, the next step? I know you're playing Davis Cup. Just what's your outlook going forward?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I don't know. I don't know how the rest of my season is going to go. I have no idea.

I mean, it's a lot to kind of take in, what is the reality currently now, right? I see Davis Cup, Laver Cup, Tokyo, other tournaments. I have no idea what the rest of the year looks like.

I don't know what I'll do, I don't know how I'll come up, I don't know how I'll play, I don't know how to recover from this, to be honest with you.

I haven't been this down in a very, very long time.

Q. You are planning to still play Davis Cup and Laver Cup?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah.

Q. I know you mentioned condition and the courts, but you also had a lot of tapes on your back. Did your back injury affect any of that, as well, or not really?

FRANCES TIAFOE: No, I mean, I don't think anybody is 100% at this point. Obviously I just had my thing, but I was fine. I was totally fine. That was more a precaution to not have that happen again.

No, I had no issues on today. I felt, you know, good and, you know, I've had those all the matches. So, no, I don't want to use that.

Q. Frances, and Ben, of course, had to withdraw from his match. How would you describe what you're feeling right now in terms of your personal disappointment and also to take into account what happened with Ben?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Actually, what happened?

Q. He pulled out, shoulder injury, retired, start of the fifth set.

FRANCES TIAFOE: I didn't know that. Obviously I had other things on my mind. I didn't see any scores of any other matches. I didn't see it. I had no idea.

Yeah, definitely give him a text, see how he's feeling. I really had no idea. You don't want to see -- I saw he was up two sets to one on the court, and that was it. I just figured he probably won.

That always sucks to go out like that. I had that feeling, but especially in a Grand Slam where actually it was most like he was probably going to win.

Very, very tough. But ultimately, I don't really care about what just happened to me, to be honest.