Frances Tiafoe has recently been reminiscing about his career, speaking to Nick Kyrgios.
First discussing what it means to upset the norm and being yourself, these are two figures in tennis most renowned for doing their own thing.
The Australian, who has been out injured for some time now, has often bred controversy with his brash and flamboyant style.
Meanwhile, Tiafoe has actually become something of a cultural icon with his exploits.
However, on the court, things have stagnated in recent years.
Frances Tiafoe wants to knock out Carlos Alcaraz
Speaking on Kyrgios’ podcast, Good Trouble, the USA tennis player was looking back on what has already been an impressive career.
And although big things were, and still are expected of him, it feels like his golden opportunity came in the 2022 US Open.
Discussing that heartbreaking tournament in length, where Carlos Alcaraz outlasted the 26-year-old in their five-set semi-final slugfest, both Tiafoe and Kyrgios agreed that had he won there was no way he was losing the subsequent final against Casper Ruud.
The former then noted: ‘Yeah with that hype I mean I was feeling good. You can give it all in that one time. I mean I think about that fifth set, I was like one set away from playing the US Open final.
‘I think about what that would have meant to just go and hold that trophy. I think about it all the time. I mean even sometimes I see the guy I just want to knock him out.
‘Obviously, he’s the nicest guy in the world so of course not but it’s one of those that hurt.’
Frances Tiafoe is enduring a tough 2024
In ATP tournaments this season, Tiafoe has won seven matches and lost seven matches, being dumped out in the first or second round of a competition in six tournaments already.
Frankly, for a player of his calibre, that has not been good enough.
Big things were expected of the former world number ten when he burst onto the scene, but a torrid run of recent form has since seen him slip as low as 20th in the world.
Now, for someone with such an explosive play style, and with the capability of beating most players on tour on his day, that is so disappointing to see.
His 2024 has been remarkably tumultuous, but that is no excuse.
We all want to see Tiafoe back towards the top of the rankings, but to do that something has got to change. Because, with the likes of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner only set to improve with age, time might even be running out for him to make history in same way he so nearly did in 2022.
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