Frances Tiafoe: Having Rafael Nadal In Washington Is ‘Pretty Legendary’ | ATP Tour

The Citi Open is Frances Tiafoe’s hometown occasion, which he first performed seven years in the past as a 16-year-old. However this may be one of the crucial particular editions but, as 88-time tour-level titlist Rafael Nadal is making his debut.

“It is simply unbelievable that he got here right here to D.C.,” Tiafoe mentioned. “Having a participant of his calibre right here is fairly legendary.”

Tiafoe, who’s from Maryland, is ready to compete within the ATP 500 for the fifth time. The American famous how necessary it was for him to have stars play the event when he was youthful, and the way having somebody like Nadal might assist encourage the subsequent era of native athletes.

“This event’s massive. For guys across the space, to see professional gamers, that is the actual factor. Coming right here and seeing Del Potro win right here, seeing James Blake, all these guys coming and enjoying right here, legends, Lleyton Hewitt. You are like, ‘Wow, I can perhaps play with these guys sooner or later, even be in the identical locker room as these guys,’” Tiafoe mentioned. “I feel these experiences positively helped me to be the person I’m at the moment. I like this event being right here, and I hope it may be right here for years and years to return.”

The 23-year-old additionally took time to replicate on the 12 months World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has had. Tiafoe pushed the Serbian to 4 units within the second spherical of the Australian Open. Since then, Djokovic has gained the primary three main championships of the season and on the US Open will attempt to grow to be the primary man since Rod Laver in 1969 to finish the calendar-year Grand Slam.

“The man’s particular, man. He can play on all surfaces, he is transferring so nicely, his serve has gotten rather a lot higher. Mentally, simply the hardest on the planet. Not essentially he has the perfect forehand, backhand or no matter, simply mentally he is so, so good,” Tiafoe mentioned. “As you elevate your stage, he’ll maintain elevating it, maintain elevating it, actually make you beat him. He goes to a spot that individuals simply do not fairly need to go to it looks like. He is at all times acquired a solution for you. He is on the be brink of reaching one thing loopy particular.

“As a lot as I like seeing greatness, I would prefer it to cease, another person win, ideally me. We’ll see the way it goes in the long run.”

For now, Tiafoe will deal with the duty at hand: the Citi Open. The house favorite has by no means superior previous the Spherical of 16 in Washington, however he’s assured after a great grass-court season, throughout which he upset Stefanos Tsitsipas within the first spherical at Wimbledon.

“I gained Nottingham, quarters of Queen’s, the run at Wimbledon. I have not gained that many consecutive matches in a very long time. I feel I can play nicely, however so sporadically,” Tiafoe mentioned. “To have that many wins in a brief span was very nice. To beat a high-calibre participant in a significant, and so convincingly, that offers you quite a lot of confidence. I am simply prepared for what’s subsequent. Hopefully I can carry on this highway. Additionally I am extraordinarily comfortable proper now simply on the whole.”

Tiafoe is seeded sixteenth in Washington, and he’ll play former World No. 5 Kevin Anderson or current Newport finalist Jenson Brooksby — who misplaced to Anderson in that championship match — within the second spherical. Irrespective of the opponent, the 2018 Delray Seashore titlist can be prepared.

“[It is] the perfect I’ve felt shortly. I’m enjoying some nice tennis. I am able to go,” Tiafoe mentioned. “I’ve put some good matches in on grass, feeling good, feeling much less jet lag from the Olympics now. By the point I am going, I will be able to go.”