"I just felt my body shut down" - Frances Tiafoe analyzes his loss to Fritz at the US Open

Le 07/09/2024 à 08h57 par Guillaume Nonque

Following his defeat to Taylor Fritz in the US Open semi-finals, Frances Tiafoe shared his thoughts at his post-match press conference. The American player spoke of the physical and mental challenges that ultimately led to his defeat.

"It's tough. This one's going to hurt a lot," he confessed. Tiafoe felt confident during the match, but pointed to the sudden onset of cramps that affected his game: "I just felt my body shut down." He attributed these difficulties to nervousness rather than fatigue.

Tiafoe insisted on the intensity of the match, comparing it to his previous duels against top players such as Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. Referring to a key 31-shot rally, he dismissed the idea that it had exhausted him physically, saying, "It wasn't really that rally, it was later in the set at 5-4."

Those unexpected cramps eventually got the better of him, and despite his best efforts to counter them, his body didn't respond as he'd hoped. "But sometimes, it's just not your day," he concluded.

The American also took stock of his overall season, acknowledging the progress made. Despite the pain of defeat, Tiafoe remains optimistic: "I'm going to turn the page. I'm going to try to finish the year on a high note."

He plans to continue playing, including competitions in Asia and at the Laver Cup, with the firm intention of avoiding similar situations in the future. He has promised to learn from the experience, assuring that he will "work very hard" to be ready for his next opportunity.

Reflecting on the wider context of American tennis, Tiafoe was optimistic about the future. He mentioned the successes of other American players, such as Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton, declaring: "I think it's going to open doors. Guys are going to start believing they can go far in Grand Slam tournaments."

As the game evolves and new opportunities present themselves, Tiafoe is confident that the next generation will rise to the challenges. However, he remains focused on his personal progression, promising to stay calmer and learn from his mistakes to guarantee a better result next time.

Cramps are basically from three things. Didn't win the genetic lotto and no matter what will never have the stamina to play long matches, dehydration or electrolyte/amino acid imbalance. Even the amateurs know the importance of hydration. Can't imagine conditioning being an issue with all the advance training techniques available to today's athletes. And with a net worth of around $8 million, no reason not to consult with a top notch sports nutritionist to mix up some of those magic potion combinations of electrolytes/amino acids all the top players drink during competition. Making it to the next level would have netted an addition $600,000 from the tournament and whatever additional money from performance clauses in sponsor contracts. 26 years old and not getting any younger. The Big 3 out of the equation and now Sinner and Alcaraz have shown up. Opportunities don't come along every day.