As the US Open approaches, the spotlight is shining brightly on some of tennis’s biggest names. For players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, their recent successes are fueling their confidence, propelling them forward with undeniable momentum. But for others, like Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic, the road ahead is anything but smooth. The weight of expectations, combined with the inevitable pressure of a Grand Slam, makes their journey a formidable one. Yet, in the midst of all this, Frances Tiafoe is not backing down. 

Tiafoe knows that facing the likes of Gauff and Djokovic won’t be easy for any player. The American sensation engaged in a pre-tournament interview and acknowledged the prowess of high-ranked players. He admitted that while they might have failed to achieve significantly or have remained absent from the courts, the talent they possess will not reduce the challenges for their opponents. Gauff has failed miserably in the American hardcourt swing this season. She was whisked out of the Canadian Open in the second round and the Cincinnati Masters in the first match itself. Besides,

Djokovic has not played any match since he clinched the Gold medal in the Paris Olympics. While these factors may pose challenges for them, Tiafoe has a different approach. When quizzed about the same, he said, “Yeah, it all changes in a couple of matches. You can’t really anticipate that. Obviously it looks like that going in, but I think it’s open for a lot of guys this year, for sure, to have a chance at it. You can never count those guys out. They’re on the top of the game for a reason.” Both Gauff and Djokovic have established their dominance over the years.

Despite not having a sensational year and being worn out by injuries and surgery, Djokovic pounced back at Wimbledon where he clinched the runner-up title. Besides, his run at the Paris Olympics proved to the world that he still had fire in his belly. Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, on the other hand, has demonstrated enough resilience despite the setbacks. “Obviously, I have a lot coming up soon with the US Open, so I think just trying to reset and be ready for that,” she said after her Cincinnati defeat. Tiafoe was quick to point out the above factors.

“It’s always different in a slam. The lights are a little brighter. We’ll see. We’ll see what ends up happening.” However, he did not let his chances take a backseat either. “Personally I just like where I’m at and my shot at it.” Remember, Tiafoe is also in sensational form recently. 

The 26-year-old advanced to the finals of the Cincinnati Masters this year. He took over the likes of Lorenzo Musetti, Hubert Hurkacz, and Holger Rune on his road to achievement. As he gears up for the grand slam, all he can expect is a similar performance.

Can Frances Tiafoe overcome his ill fate at Grand Slams?

Tiafoe has not witnessed much success this entire year. Before the recently concluded Cincinnati Masters, Tiafoe failed to bag continuous victories. He secured three victories in a row in ATP Houston, before losing in the final. He also maintained a similar trend at the Citi Open, before a semifinal loss, which have been his deepest runs recently apart from the 2023 US Open. Tiafoe himself reflected upon this after his match against Hubert Hurkacz at Cincinnati.

Speaking during the on-court interview, he said, “It’s been a tough year man. It’s been a tough year. Yeah, pretty much since the end of my US Open run, what I haven’t won 4 matches in a row since then so uh, yeah, it’s been tough.” The streak is even more concerning in Grand Slams. Tiafoe has won just one match each at the Australian and French Open this year, besides winning two at Wimbledon. While Cincinnati Masters came as an exception, Tiafoe has a lot to catch up on. 

As the US Open draws near, it would be interesting to see if the American star can demonstrate a similar momentum to the Cincinnati, and win big in the final grand slam of the year.