Tiafoe: "I want to win a Grand Slam someday"

For the third time in his career, Frances Tiafoe has faced the bitter side of defeat in the semifinals of the US Open. This morning Tiafoe fell again to Ben Shelton, in what has become a classic of the New York Grand Slam, but after the match, he entered the press room with a smile for the incredible tournament he has had. In fact, he is clear about his next goal: The ATP Finals in Turin. Moreover, he is not giving up on his attempt to win his first Grand Slam.

Tiafoe has ensured that he leaves the US Open as the world number 8, which is the best ranking of his career. In the past, he had reached number 10, but had never been among the top 8. In the Race to Turin, he is in 6th place, so he will have to maintain the consistency he has shown throughout the year to qualify for the tournament that brings together the 8 best players on the circuit at the end of the year. It's something that is marked in fire on his calendar, and he wants to achieve it at all costs. On the other hand, he has been three times on the verge of a major final, and he is confident he is on the right path to achieve his goal in the future.

Tiafoe analyzes his defeat against Shelton

It’s clear that this is a tough moment. It’s hard. I had my chance. Obviously, I have been in this situation many times before, but it’s still tough, you know? I wanted to reach a Grand Slam final, of course. It was an important match. We must acknowledge Ben's merit. He played well. He played well tonight. He served really well, which made things very difficult for me, while I did not serve as well.

I tried to hold my serve, but in the end... well, there’s not much more to say. Because, on one hand, it has been a great season for me, but on the other, this defeat is tough. We wanted to win this match. It has been a wonderful few weeks, but I couldn't finish the job, and that will probably be my next challenge.

Confidence to return to other Grand Slam semifinals

It’s never good to get overconfident, but I’m quite sure I can get back to that level, without a doubt. I’m happy with my performance and having competed every week. Obviously, I had a small setback —apart from some wrist discomfort—, but aside from that, I’ve been present every week; it’s something I really wanted to do and I’m glad I achieved it. I remember last year I gave an interview here and I felt really bad about the situation I was in.

It’s hard. I feel frustrated, but at the same time, I’m very proud of myself and the journey I’ve taken. I was just happy to be able to play tonight. I was in a situation where I definitely shouldn’t have played. But in the end, I want to achieve my goal. I want to be a Grand Slam champion someday; so I need to start over and keep working.

Tiafoe talks about the love he receives from New York

That’s why I just want to win. The love I receive is incredible. It’s something that really moves me to tears; coming from the beginnings I had, the affection I feel here is crazy. In every match I play, everyone—the staff, the security guards— everyone wants to see me succeed. Friends, family, my team... there’s a fantastic energy. At the hotel where I stay, they are so excited to see me every year. I feel good; I feel very good being here in New York. Obviously, as far as tennis is concerned, I have always been there fighting for the important titles. Hopefully, one day we can achieve it.

How to approach the rest of the season

It’s about continuing more or less what I’ve been doing all year. Just keep working. I’ve grown fond of working, so it’s not something that... well, I’ll probably feel sorry for myself for a couple of days, but then I can get back to work and take myself to Turin. I want to be at the ATP Finals. I want to play. That shows you’ve played very well from start to finish, and it’s something I really want to achieve. It was one of the important goals I set on my vision board, and I want to get there.

Shelton’s evolution starting from the second set

Even though I have won many matches, my serve still remains a challenge, in terms of percentages. I was trying really hard with my serve, while he served with 82% effectiveness. It’s complicated. Especially against lefties: how they move, the spins, the kicks, the sliders, the powerful serves... Obviously, he can generate a lot of speed when he really puts in the effort.

I had to fight a lot in my service games, while he was looking to break my serve. I think that was the most decisive factor. Moreover, he started returning better. In the first set, for example, in the 5-4 game, his forehand and backhand returns were going long. He was a bit nervous, but that’s something I also need to keep improving. That put me in a very compromised situation tonight.

Shelton's improvement in 2026

It was incredible. Both of us are trying to figure it out one hundred percent, to find the sweet spot. He returned well. I mean, I gave him many second serves, but that helped him in that aspect. Yes, he really wanted to win. I did too. He stays solid in the rallies and doesn’t make many unforced errors. He’s starting to become more solid; his game is refining. Instead of just looking for winning shots, he now holds the pace of the rallies well. Obviously, there were long rallies and he was ready to keep playing; that’s something he doesn’t usually do, but he has done a lot this year. That’s probably it.

What Shelton needs to do to beat Zverev

It’s a Grand Slam final. He will need to capitalize on his opportunities, and Ben has been doing that very well. He needs to keep winning over the crowd and see what happens; just see what occurs. Both will serve at a very high level and everything is likely to be decided in a few tiebreaks. Obviously, you have to set aside the head-to-head record and really believe he can win the match. He needs to perform at a good level for a couple of hours —or maybe more— and see what happens. May the best player win.

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