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Seeking the ‘Best Approach’ to Fulfill His US Open Dream, Frances Tiafoe Turns to the Heroics of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic

Published 09/02/2023, 3:42 AM EDT

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Frances Tiafoe is one of the many hopefuls for the local crowd at the ongoing US Open this year. Ranked 2 in the US and 10 in the ATP, Tiafoe is one player who steps in with big expectations. With mental pressure higher than usual at his home Slam, Tiafoe and many other players need to find their own optimal strategies for victory. Big Foe recently revealed the thought process with which he steps into Grand Slams.

While discussing the mindset with which he plays, it would be a little remiss for Tiafoe not to mention the legendary Big Three. The American player praised these players, who consistently played in the final stages of almost all the major tournaments throughout the year for decades before he dived into his own mental approach.

Frances Tiafoe takes after the big three for slams

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Playing in some of the biggest championships is what all hopeful tennis professionals aim for. After that comes winning big. On the world stage, the pressure is immense, and one’s mind can go haywire with overthinking. Tiafoe is no more immune to this situation than any other player on the circuit. But with the experience he has gained, he has found a way to approach the majors in a manner that will benefit him.

via Reuters

After his second-round match, the 2022 US Open semifinalist talked about the difficulty of playing in Grand Slams over all other tournaments. Two weeks of constant action with distractions make it difficult, but the American player believes it is worth it. He discussed what has changed since the US Open last year, where he played till the semifinals: I think here is how I kind of want to approach all the other ones. Stop making it such a big deal. Obviously, everybody wants to do well in the slams. I put so much emphasis on the slams this year after what I did last year here in the Open, I think that was almost a detriment to me.

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He further explained the process he uses to make sure he plays well in each match. “Just go out there and do your thing. Have fun, compete hard, get the crowd involved, and let the chips fall where they may.

Having fun with the sport now, he further talked about his mindset using the example of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal: “At the end of the day I’m 25. Whether it happens now or another time, it’s okay. I think that’s what Novak and those guys do. They just go out and do their thing no matter what. I think that’s the best approach.” In the same interview, Tiafoe also praised all those who came before him for constantly making it into the final stages.

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Big Foe praises yesteryear players for their achievements

Before he dived into his own mindset, Tiafoe praised the players who came before him. For him, the two weeks of the grand slams are extremely difficult given the strength of the competition and the stage of the championships. 

As he explained the toughness of the majors, he lauded the big four for consistently reaching the final stages and playing at the highest level. Additionally, he also mentioned Juan Martin Del Potro and Tomas Berdych for their runs in tournaments, often going as far as the quarterfinals. 

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He praised them for often playing at the level of the big three given how tough it is to go far in grand slams. Now, it is up to the rank number 10 to continue playing at the level which he foresaw for himself. Will the American player, who is now in the Round of 16, rise up to the challenge and turn over a new leaf in his game?

Watch This Story – ‘One Punch He’s Out’ – Coco Gauff, Reilly Opelka, and Other American Stars Rile Up Taylor Fritz for a Boxing Showdown Versus Frances Tiafoe

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Written by:

Ripunjay Gaba

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Ripunjay is a Tennis writer with an unwavering passion for the sport and a deep admiration for Roger Federer. He specializes in providing in-depth coverage of everything related to the 'Swiss Maestro.' Ripunjay's love for tennis is evident in the quality of his writing, which is characterized by its clarity, depth, and insightful analysis.
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Edited by:

Prateek Srivastava