The 2025 season was supposed to be Frances Tiafoe’s breakout year, a chance to break away from the pack and become the No. 1 in American men’s tennis. But as the summer sun faded from the hard courts of North America, so too did Tiafoe’s hopes of adding another trophy to his cabinet. In a candid moment of reflection, Tiafoe confirmed what fans had sensed for months: his season, though filled with flashes of brilliance, would end without silverware.

This year, Tiafoe played 49 matches but won just 26 of them. His best result came in Houston, where he reached the final, though he was felled by compatriot Jenson Brooksby, 6-4, 6-2. Then came quarterfinal showings at the French Open and Citi Open, but he failed to capitalize on that momentum, instead facing a series of early losses, most recently at the Japan Open and the Shanghai Masters. Something had to give, and Tiafoe has just confirmed the same on his social media.

Taking to Instagram, he shared that he was winding his season up early: “2025 season has come to an end early this year for the kid. It wasn’t the season I hoped for, but lots of lessons learned on and off court. I want to give a huge S/O to my team. I’ve been with these guys for several years. We’ve shared some incredible moments that I’ll remember forever. That being said, I’ve decided it’s time for a change.”

He shared the post shortly after announcing his split with his coach, David Witt. The 52-year-old, who is best known for his longtime partnership with Venus Williams and Jessica Pegula, joined Frances Tiafoe’s team in July 2024. It was Big Foe’s never-say-die attitude that led him to take a chance with Witt, who just happened to be free after Wimbledon.

Tiafoe continued, “I truly appreciate the love..energy…passion, and brotherhood. It’s been a great ride and only bigger and better things for all of us ahead. Excited for what’s ahead for me and ready to put the work in. Thanks for all the love and support thru it all. The best is yet to come.”

During an interview with the US Open , Witt revealed, “After Wimbledon, he called me personally and asked, ‘Do you want to coach me?‘ It kind of just happened like that. I was like, ‘Hell yeah, that’d be awesome’ and he said, ‘Let’s do it.’“ Witt went on to add how they’ve known each other for a long time, and how he has been following Frances Tiafoe and his career closely in the past few years. “I think because we are both so chill, we like to keep it real and light and have fun, and it just happened quickly,“ said the coach. 

Tiafoe’s energetic presence, along with his fun-loving nature, made them a perfect match. There have been several such instances where Tiafoe and his team were seen having fun, and Witt also mentioned the incredible chemistry inside the team. David Witt also said that working in such a positive and fun-loving environment makes their job easier. “The team is kind of built that way—there are no bad apples,“ he said. But what’s that one factor about Tiafoe that impressed him the most, and what was his reaction to this recent split?

David Witt thanks Frances Tiafoe for giving him the opportunity to work with him

If we take a look back at their partnership, shortly after the introduction of David Witt into the team, Frances Tiafoe managed to reach the semifinals of the Citi Open, finished as runners-up at the Cincinnati Open, and made it to the semifinals of the US Open. But the story has been a bit different this year, and perhaps this could be a reason behind Tiafoe’s chop and change in his team.

Reacting to this news, David Witt also shared a post on his IG account with the caption, “Thanks, Big Foe, for the ride this last year and a half. Some things come to an end, but good memories, great times, and a friendship last forever. Thanks, brotha — nothing but love.“ Currently ranked 29th in the world, Tiafoe reached as high as world number 11 in July this year. 

But not only Witt, Frances Tiafoe has now also parted ways with another member of his team, Jordi Arconada. He has been with Tiafoe’s team for the past half-decade, so even this split is like a bolt from the blue. While sharing his thoughts after the split with an IG post, Arconada said, “After five years of hard work and fun, it is time to let go. I will always be thankful for the opportunity you gave me to come work with you, and I’m extremely proud of what we have achieved together. Super excited for what the future has in store for me and for new beginnings.”

With a new coaching search underway and a renewed focus on conditioning and mental toughness, Tiafoe is already setting his sights on 2026. Is he the one to watch out for in the next season? Well, in a previous interview with Olympics.com, Tiafoe claimed that he plans to start practicing with “high intensity“ to join Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. 

Talking about the expectations of him in the next season, he added, “You can expect a different version. A version that’s yes, he’s going to be a smiling guy, but he’s going to be going to be there f—— about it and hopefully, hopefully, that gets me to where I’m trying to go.”

Do you think Frances Tiafoe can really cause trouble for Alcaraz and Sinner next year? Share your thoughts in the comment box.