EloQuent
Legend
Great article with good clips embedded.
https://deadspin.com/frances-tiafoe-is-an-american-to-root-for-1823270298
https://deadspin.com/frances-tiafoe-is-an-american-to-root-for-1823270298
Frances Tiafoe Is An American To Root For
- Thread starter EloQuent
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Deleted member 756486
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Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
I want him to get to top 5 in the world and win 1 major before his career is done.
D
Deleted member 733170
Guest
Let’s get the all American cheerleaders out please.
Another USTA success story, like Opelka:
Tiafoe moved to the USTA National Training Center in Boca Raton, Florida to train with more experienced coaches
Opelka didn't start playing tennis regularly until he started training through USTA in Boca Raton at 13 years old.
So much for those constantly bashing USTA and claiming that "family tennis" is the way to go. No wonder their kids have no results.
Tiafoe moved to the USTA National Training Center in Boca Raton, Florida to train with more experienced coaches
Opelka didn't start playing tennis regularly until he started training through USTA in Boca Raton at 13 years old.
So much for those constantly bashing USTA and claiming that "family tennis" is the way to go. No wonder their kids have no results.
Legend of Borg
G.O.A.T.
tiafoe's forehand is weird
Actually, so is DP's.
Shaolin
G.O.A.T.
Slightly different than normal but nothing outlandish like Tiafoe's.
beltsman
G.O.A.T.
Incredibly ugly game. So no.
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
This
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Deleted member 688153
Guest
He's probably the best they have at the moment.
Kalin
Legend
I watched FT live in Shanghai, was sitting very close since it was on the outer stadium. Below are some photos I took, for those who are interested.
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...e-ugliest-strokes.597182/page-2#post-11689033
I liked his overall demeanour and the way he turned the match around; he looked completely out of it in the beginning vs the experienced Mayer but managed to win which is always impressive coming from a young player. Also, his FH when observed live doesn't looked that bad; lots of 'funny' strokes on tour that do the job.
What I didn't see was the 'wow' factor that you kind of expect from a future star and that is clearly visible in the likes of Shapo, Money, Young Z etc. You know, like a blistering forehand, a booming serve or something out of the ordinary. Sure, it was only one match. But, at his age it is time he develops the one (or two!) weapons that he'll need if he wants to be at or near the top. The serve is a good place to start, he generates a good amount of speed from a very compact motion but with a frame like his he should be able to turn it into a bigger weapon.
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...e-ugliest-strokes.597182/page-2#post-11689033
I liked his overall demeanour and the way he turned the match around; he looked completely out of it in the beginning vs the experienced Mayer but managed to win which is always impressive coming from a young player. Also, his FH when observed live doesn't looked that bad; lots of 'funny' strokes on tour that do the job.
What I didn't see was the 'wow' factor that you kind of expect from a future star and that is clearly visible in the likes of Shapo, Money, Young Z etc. You know, like a blistering forehand, a booming serve or something out of the ordinary. Sure, it was only one match. But, at his age it is time he develops the one (or two!) weapons that he'll need if he wants to be at or near the top. The serve is a good place to start, he generates a good amount of speed from a very compact motion but with a frame like his he should be able to turn it into a bigger weapon.
ojo rojo
Legend
Red Rick
Bionic Poster
D
Deleted member 756486
Guest
Lord Fedr doesn’t have cheerleaders.
He has worshippers and admirers.
Sysyphus
Talk Tennis Guru
hey, few are able to ruffle the pom-poms of Fed cheerleaders as regularly as YAFF (whose username I even take to include a certain ironic distance)
ojo rojo
Legend
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
Frances played solidly against Shapo tonight since Denis did little else but flay away on his BH.
I don't see Tiafoe getting into the top 30 without changing his FH, it's way too complicated.
Thundergod
Hall of Fame
I like that he seems like a good, well grounded kid. It's too early to tell, but I doubt he will be some big time force unless something drastic happens.
slice bh compliment
G.O.A.T.
Me too. Cool kid, great story, very likable.
I am a fan...Even though his game is not like the typical players i enjoy (RF, Stan, shapo, thiem, DelPo, kohli, jo, richie, baghdatis, guga, rafter, pete, goran).
Of all the Americans, i like Chris Eubanks and Frances TFO over isner, querrey, smiley opelka, jackieSockie, little stevie, jared, taylor harry fritz, kudls, et al. I am sure i am missing someone. But...
Go TFO!
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
Tell us something we don’t know. Weirdest forehand after that one of Gulbis, now extinct.
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
Tell us something we don’t know. Weirdest forehand after that one of Gulbis, now extinct.
Thiem backhand too. They will harm themselves some day.
He also played well against Chung and Delpo.
Extremely clutch serving. Overall solid backhand, forehand, return.
Problem is what was mentioned above - he just doesn't have anything that looks like a crazy powerful weapon, and you need something truly outstanding to win the big tournaments. That said, consistency and fitness counts for a lot in the modern ATP, so if he's fit and takes the strokes he has and can grind, he can certainly be top 20 and get some upsets and win some 250s.
Extremely clutch serving. Overall solid backhand, forehand, return.
Problem is what was mentioned above - he just doesn't have anything that looks like a crazy powerful weapon, and you need something truly outstanding to win the big tournaments. That said, consistency and fitness counts for a lot in the modern ATP, so if he's fit and takes the strokes he has and can grind, he can certainly be top 20 and get some upsets and win some 250s.
mental midget
Hall of Fame
yeah, listen, the forehand's a little funky but apart from federer there aren't a lot of guys who make you pay for taking an extra split second to set up, so, we'll see...he's very strong and very fast, it's a good base to build his game up from for sure. his backhand isn't much of a weapon though, that's something to work on. overall, happy for the guy.
slice bh compliment
G.O.A.T.
True. But if he can learn to transition well, use his speed offensively (like Jo Tsonga);
and hit halfvolleys and volleys with the physicality and the feel of sampras, this kid has a future.
If not, yeah, top 25 and occasional medalist in the grindlympics of tennis.
letstakeourshirtsoff
Professional
who taught him that spastic forehand anyways?
a10best
Hall of Fame
Lonzo Ball did (the ugly form king)
I'm still rooting for FT. Love the fact he beat the latest hype, Chung. Damn, then FT will become the latest media hype and someone will beat him and so on.
Maybe literally like ten hours, as in ten days. Because he doesn't look like he's ever lifted.
Ace of Aces
Semi-Pro
His forehand used to look even stranger. He’s really changed that shot in the last few years
Ace of Aces
Semi-Pro
His tendency to play an overly defensive style is more of a problem than anything right now
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EloQuent
Legend
Frances.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
EloQuent
Legend
Interestingly his twin brother's name is Franklin. So both are Frank.Spells it the girl's way (for some odd reason).
Meles
Bionic Poster
Been keeping a good eye on Frances since watching him against Anderson in Washington. A great player to follow. A very smart player and perhaps an Einstein among the 25 and under group. He's clawed his way back in a lot of matches. Perhaps he's just on a roll and will cool, but impressed with all aspects of the game. Braking Shapo 3 straight times is impressive. So much clutch serving its amazing. A lot of his success was in the wind which kept his opponents from attacking him, but Frances could still be aggressive enough with his heavy spin. Seems likely this is a bit of a fluke result due to the weather, making it more a view of what Tiafo might do in a year or so. Will be fun to keep an eye on him until we know if the future is now.
guanzishou
G.O.A.T.
I love his personality. Must be a great guy to hang out with.
guanzishou
G.O.A.T.
Highlight Tiafoe vs Nadal
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