BNP PARIBAS OPEN

March 6, 2026

Frances Tiafoe

Press Conference

F. TIAFOE/J. Brooksby

6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Congrats. This is the first time you beat Jenson. What was the secret today?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Gonna keep a secret a secret, but it was just nice to come out here and get another win.

Obviously a great week in Acapulco, but I think ultimately just being aggressive. I was super-aggressive today. You know, I moved great today. Movement was going to be really important. I have to move well because he's so good at moving you. It was a great performance and ultimately happy with it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You have always been one of the guys who is the best at playing with the crowd here in the States, at the Open, here, Citi Open. It can be tricky for other players, though, because sometimes you can get too amped. What is your secret to make it work for you to turn that energy into positive tennis and wins?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, I think obviously the match, the moment, played a big part in it. I think today I was trying to really keep my head down and stay under water. He's so good turning matches around.

So today, American-American, obviously I know if I got them riled up, they probably would have got behind me, but I just wanted to play point by point. I think when you're playing some foreigners, top guys, you want to definitely use it, get a break and get them riled up, make them feel you a little more.

I think just picking your moments, it also takes energy, so picking your moments is monumental, getting the crowd into it. It's fun. Ultimately it's a great time.

Q. Emma Raducanu was talking about periods where she didn't have a coach. I know you've talked about you needing quite a specific coach, not wanting a drill sergeant. Have you ever thought like a time where you would just do it on your own and how might that work?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I mean, I have done it a few times just with homey, just with friends.

I mean, I got a little bit of a drill sergeant right now in Mark. I'm going to say you go through different stages. There was a time when I was her age where I didn't want it.

But sometimes you have to look in the mirror and be, like, what do you actually really need, how much you actually want? Not to say any way for her, but I'm just saying, for me, this is how I feel right now.

Look, she's so good and she's so talented, obviously she's a worker, she's a Grand Slam champion. I just think she just needs to find someone who is going to really be there for her and be there with her ups and down and her trying to get back to the top of the game where she deserves to be.

Also, to tell her the truth, but also not make every loss or moment be the end-all, be-all, because every week is so different. You don't need to change your game, don't need to change her approach. Just do the work every day and try to get over the line. She's so good, I think she can do anything.

Q. What do you feel you really lacked in the period when you were just with friends, didn't have a coach? Did it make you think, I need this, I need that?

FRANCES TIAFOE: For me, it's discipline every day. You just want to do it every day. I was a really selective competitor for a long time.

You know, it was hard. You play a lot of tournaments. I'm not saying I'm not trying, but there is a lot of weeks where you have a big week, and then you have three bad weeks. It's like why do you have three bad weeks?

It's easier to kind of do that with someone, whatever, homey, I don't feel it. They're not going to push you because they're your homey.

That's the only tough thing about having it. If you have a coach that's stern and on you, man, you're like, I've got to wake up, and I gotta do it. You got your dos and don'ts a little bit.

Q. You're such an entertaining player to watch on the court. Gael Monfils just probably played his last match at Indian Wells. What can you say about what he's done in terms of just bringing charisma and entertaining style to the sport?

FRANCES TIAFOE: We were talking about that before. We both played today. He's like, man, when I'm done, you're the guy, you're the entertaining guy. We're such good friends. Actually came up together. Our cars came at the same time, coming from the courts.

He's just such a legend, man. Obviously it's not something that we try to put on. Just us enjoying the game. We just love the game. We just try to put out joy.

There is so much, a lot of people are going through stuff, the world's all over the place, and you see entertainment and people actually doing something they love at a high level. That stuff comes back, the energy comes back.

We both just love what we do. Came from humble beginnings and we just come out there and try and compete at the highest level and show that joy and have people love what we do.

I'm going to miss him a ton, but we're gonna to be in touch anyway so it's going to be great.

Q. Things clicking in place, really good performance in Acapulco, the crazy match point saved, solving the Brooksby puzzle today?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, it's starting to come together, man. Starting to come together, and it feels good. I mean, big growth week last week. I was finally on the mend a little bit, still a little under the weather. I was pretty sick in Acapulco, just battling, choosing to do it anyways, do it anyways. Hurting, don't care, no excuses.

Yeah, things starting to fall your way a little bit. Obviously it was a little luck and everything. But I'm working, and you see it starting to turn a page.

I'm happy where we're going. I think things are clicking. Just gotta stay with it, not feel content at any moment. Just stay with it, wake up and grind and do it. So, yeah.