Frances Tiafoe scored an electrifying 76 46 76 win today over 21 seed Kyle Edmund at Miami Open. His dad Frances did this interview with me while standing in line to go back inside stadium one to see the second set of Azarenka vs Sevastova…
Question: Your son has been playing amazing tennis since the NY Open first round win vs Korda. Your comment?
Frances Tiafoe: Yeah he’s been playing unbelievable tennis. He’s been working very hard on his game in the last year. So we expect these results moving forward.
Q: When did it first strike you that your son had special talent?
FT: When he was nine. Because other people came up to me telling me your son is playing very good tennis at nine years old. I didnt give it no mind until everybody started saying the same thing. And then he went up to no 2 in the world in juniors. So Sascha (Zverev)was better.
Q: Your son also has the special rare quality to thrill and electrify a stadium like a showman with flair and charisma. How did this quality develop?
FT: Well I always told him: understand if you win or lose, tennis is entertainment. You want to play tennis in a way that everyone wants to come out and see you. Whether you win or lose, it’s your charisma. What you put out there. That’s an interesting question because in the off season in November-December Frances was at the USTA Training Center in Orlando, he lost (practice match) to a guy called Tennys. But after the game everybody was asking for the autograph of Frances. And the other guy who was standing beside him – nobody went to him. That’s the kind of thing I’m telling you. The game is just a sport. It’s entertainment. And everybody wants to win but you have to look at it like people are watching you and you have to show your best and entertain people so that they come back the next day.
Q: Are you surprised how well he is doing? Beating Del Potro, almost beating Roger at US Open, at such a young age in the biggest arenas?
FT: Yes and no. When I asked him when he was young and he said he wanted to be a tennis player, so that’s his job. So I expect him to be performing the way he is right now.
Q: What does he need to work on to go to the next level?
FT: His serve. We gotta work on his serve. The higher you go, you gotta hold serve. Most of the guys, Federer, Nadal, you watch the tournaments, you can break them maybe one or two times. If you win your serve every single time, the possibilities are for you to make a great career.
Q: What has been your favorite match so far of your son?
FT: This one (smiles). I think this one.
Q: Why?
FT: Well because Edmund is a good player. He’s like 21 in the world. He’s beaten top ten guys. It was impressive the way he won the whole thing, down 2-4 in the third and he came back. He thought he wasnt even gonna be able to win. I mean, it was amazing for me.
Q: He was surprised himself that he won today?
FT: Yep. He did.
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Dan Markowitz · March 25, 2018 at 3:12 am
I love that comment by Tiafoe Sr. that he told Frances that the game is about entertainment and making the fans come back and see you. Most tennis fathers would tell their sons the game is about winning and moving up in the rankings or the game is about getting better every time you step out on the court. I don’t think I ever told my son the game is about entertainment. Of course, he’s only 11 and not on the level of Tiafoe as a junior, but the father obviously has a flair. I like that.
catherine · March 25, 2018 at 3:45 am
Scoop – you were actually queueing up to watch women’s tennis ?
(I wouldn’t have for that one – not a fan of Azarenka – just don’t like her style)
BTW – no story about Tiafoe/Edmund in Brit papers – just Federer Federer Federer.
scoopmalinowski · March 25, 2018 at 7:54 am
Dan father taught son well bc Tiafoe can bring down the house. Harvey Fialkov was thrilled and really jacked up as we left the court. Everyone was. Catherine I was just passin by and saw Mr Big Foe stsnding there on line. I watch ladies tennis. Saw part of Sloane vs Niculescu and all of Hsieh vs Pliskova. Incredible how Hsieh managed to make such a fight of that after being blown out in thr first two games.
Duke Carnoustie · March 25, 2018 at 3:51 pm
Poor Tennys Sandgren! No one wants his autograph.
scoopmalinowski · March 25, 2018 at 4:22 pm
Tons of kids wanted and got Sandgrens autograph and selfies at Citi Open after he beat Kyrgios. Everybody was obliged. Still remember the little black girl who really wanted a selfie and Tennys happily obliged. Had the photo but deleted bc it was not good quality as it was late at night and dark.