ROLAND GARROS

May 28, 2026

Frances Tiafoe

Press Conference

F. TIAFOE/H. Hurkacz

6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Frances, congratulations on a great win. What got you through that fifth set today?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Oh, man, it's a ton of heart. Obviously kind of just going back to a ton of work I have done, and, you know, really try and lean on that and use that.

I know I had more in the tank. Just kind of stayed there mentally. That's a tough fourth to obviously lose, but just an understanding that if I'm hurting, I know he's hurting, and, you know, tougher man wins those type of matches, for sure.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How was it to play in that heat for so long time? Was very hot today.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, it was brutal. It was brutal. It was tough. Your mind is kind of just going, after a while, like, man, I'm really out here. I'm going to spend literally the entire afternoon on a tennis court.

Yeah, it was tough. Obviously you have, you know, your second wind, your third wind, your fourth wind, whatever. But it wasn't easy. Also not easy having 40-someting aces goes by you in five hours as well. You know, that's not so fun either. But it feels even better when you get a win there at the end.

Q. Well played today. Did you get your racquet back?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, my guy's going to go get it. They're going to go get it. Yeah, the DM, Brian, he's going to go get it. I gave a pair of shoes to Brian to go get it. I'm waiting for the text to see if the racquet...

Q. Has that ever happened to you before? I don't think I have ever heard of someone taking a racquet from you.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Obviously I hugged him, and I hugged him with my racquet in my hand, and then I was, like, my arm is getting stuck. Man, whatever. I need to go shake Hubi's hand and the ref's hand.

And then I'm walking off the court and I was, like, Wait, hold on, hold on, I'm down a racquet. I never put that racquet back in.

Mark's, like, I'm gonna get an Instagram post. I was, like, I think I'm going to get it. In the States I'm not getting the racquet, but here, I was, like, I feel like in Europe, they love tennis so much, I think I'm gonna get it.

Q. What happened with the bathroom break there? I didn't actually see it. I just saw online afterwards that he was kind of upset that you took another bathroom break between the fourth and fifth set?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Just following the rules. Just following the rules. Nothing in it. I asked the lady. You can take one between the first three sets and then you can take one after the third, after the fourth. I was just following the rules.

Q. Back to the racquet, did you feel somebody, like, literally take it out of your hand, or do you think it more got lost?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Both my hands were getting locked in, right, so I'm like, okay. After a while, it was cool, and then after a while there, I'm like, all right, man, all right, guys, I've gotta get out of this, whatever.

But my mind's going a thousand miles an hour, so at the time I'm trying to chill out, give my respects to my opponent, give my respects to the ref. And then when you come to, you're like, wait, hold on, what's was going on.

I mean, they were locking me in. I thought I was going to fall into the crowd at one point. But it was fun, it was a cool moment. But I actually need that racquet.

Q. Did you think you would get it back so quick, though? Sounds like the guy got it straight back to you.

FRANCES TIAFOE: I knew I was going to get a response. I just knew you're going to get a lot of people who was going to, like, make jokes. You just don't know what's real obviously.

But, yeah, I think I'm going to be all right with it.

Q. I wanted to ask a less-happy topic about Hailey and if you have had any contact with her since she went down yesterday. It was rough to see.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, obviously she has the same, best agency in the world, the best agent in the world obviously to handle it right now. Jill called me. I spoke to Jill first before I spoke to them.

She's, yeah, I mean, obviously want to let her kind of come out with the news, but it's not the best. I'm with her. It was very, very tough for me, obviously my brother being there. I told her, I'm going to give everything I got tomorrow, meaning today, for you, and, you know, we have had so many long conversations about kind of just doing the thing and doing it right. It's unfortunate. She's been absolutely killing it.

But, you know, good things are obviously ahead of her. She's still so young. It was definitely, definitely tough, definitely tough to hear the news. What a kid, as well. She'll be all right.

Q. Well played today. You obviously know that Sinner has surprisingly lost his match today.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Fans are saying that during the match. I'm, like, Goddamn. I'm already up two sets to one, like...

Q. I wonder if you have any thoughts about how this changes the dynamic of the tournament at all.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Look, man, I mean, everyone's going to be looking at... regardless, even when he was in, for obvious reasons, if you guys can pick up what I'm throwing out. Now he's out, I think everyone is going to even have more, but ultimately it doesn't really matter. You've got to beat one guy and whoever is in front of you. It's a long two weeks. A lot of things can happen.

I mean, unless that was your racquet for the next match, you know, to me it doesn't really matter. I have just got to beat the guy in front of me and just carry on and carry on and carry on. That's all I really care about, kind of be where my feet are. You can only affect the tournament with the guy in front of you. Everything else is pretty irrelevant.

Q. What were they actually saying to you about Sinner? Telling you the result?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, you know, you know how it is. You know how it is, especially, like, just straight up, especially just being Black and having Black tennis fans in the match where they just don't know what's going on. Sinner is out and Big Foe is in.

You know what I'm saying? I'm, like, dying laughing. You know what I'm saying, like, I was like this got to be an African dude. I'm trying to keep it together. I was like, man, this sounds like Ma Dukes talking to Pops.

You know, they generally mean it. They don't know what -- I've got to handle this right here. It was a funny moment. So that's how I found out. He said it repeatedly, for three minutes straight. It was insane.

That's how I found out.

Q. Has anyone stolen something from you before?

FRANCES TIAFOE: I wouldn't say they stole it.

Q. Somebody did?

FRANCES TIAFOE: Some type like that. It's awesome. It's all for good fun. I'm happy they had that moment, because I was super pumped up, and luckily for those guys to be in that moment, I think that's something they're going to remember, something I'm definitely going to remember. It was all great fun.

Q. When you were talking at the Australian Open about kind of hard conversations that you have had with your team, people around you, just refocusing and things like that, it takes some time for those things to settle in. If there is anything you have implemented or changed with your mindset, with daily mental work or anything like that that you feel like you have changed or you do approach differently, or is any of that kind of carrying on throughout the season in a way that you're happy with, or not really, you're kind of just like doing your job?

FRANCES TIAFOE: There is a lot of things I've changed, approach. You know, in that moment, you know, in the last year I got a lot also in my faith, kind of center myself as well. But daily motivations, trying to just be disciplined, motivated, just do things the right way, whether you feel like it or not.

But just having a lot of conversations, trying to be real, man. What are you really trying to do, what are you trying to get out of it?

You know, just stop hiding behind your talent, stop hiding behind the gift. Don't use the gift as a disadvantage; try to use it as an advantage. A lot of times you can get away with stuff because you're so gifted. But use the gift the right way, and, you know, squeeze a lemon and see what you can get out of it.

That's kind of what it is. Yeah, it doesn't happen just because you locked in for a little bit and all of a sudden all the chips will fall where you want them to be.

You know, you can guarantee yourself to not do it if you just kind of continue the way I was kind of going. Now I'm giving myself a chance, and things like today happened.

I'm very happy about it. I'm very happy I had people around me who told me things I don't want to hear, which is not easy. We all got egos, we are not trying to hear that shit -- well, stuff. It's very, very good, the people I have around me. So, you know, now I'm here, pulling out matches like that, and now I have a chance to continue to do so.

Q. As someone who has looked up to her for a long time, curious what your thoughts are on the reported Serena comeback news. Or her thoughts, for that matter (pointing to Jill).

FRANCES TIAFOE: When she makes the announcement, when she says it herself, then I'll have a comment about it.