Frances Tiafoe will feed off of US Open crowd but is too inconsistent to lift trophy
A former Wimbledon winner believes that Frances Tiafoe will feed off the energy of the home crowd to drive him at the US Open.
Tiafoe enjoyed a run to the last four at Flushing Meadows last season and Frederik Lochte Nielsen believes that he could go deep again this term.
However, Nielsen added that Tiafoe’s game is currently a little too inconsistent to power him to a Grand Slam title.
He feels that asking Tiafoe to win seven five set matches would be asking just a little too much of the American.
“I think he has been consistently improving throughout his career so far.”
“I still think he lacks some consistency to compete in seven consecutive matches, especially in the best-of-five-set format,” Nielsen told SpilXperten.
“His top-level game is undoubtedly good, but his baseline level may be a bit fluctuating.”
“But someone like him, who is consistently improving, performs well at home and thrives on the energy from the audience, so we shouldn’t underestimate Frances Tiafoe.”
Nielsen believes that there are too many players ahead of Tiafoe in the Grand Slam queue but added that anything can happen in a highly competitive men’s singles field.
“In modern tennis, almost anyone can compete with anyone. It’s no longer a big surprise when top players get eliminated in the first round, as it might have been in the past,” Nielsen adds.
“It requires a lot of concentration from all players nowadays.”
“However, until I see more of him, I believe there are others ahead of him in the race for the title.”
Tiafoe is fuelled by representing the people who have backed him to make his way in the game, as he noted as his home event in Washington last week.
“Think about it. I was a kid who had an opportunity and dreamed massively big. Shouldn’t be doing any of these things, honestly. [I was] sneaking into this event, telling my parents I was going to be a pro at a super young age, against all odds, wearing hand-me-down clothes, holes in my shoes, cargo shorts,” Tiafoe said.
“Now I’m playing this tournament. People are here to see me. I’m packing it out. Doubles was nuts yesterday. Packed it out today. Guys like KD and [Kentavious] Caldwell-Pope and Gaff [Daniel Gafford] want to come see me play.
“I have just worked really hard over the years. I think it’s come from a great place. I’m super humble about it. I’m humble they want to take the time out and come and watch me play. Yeah, it’s so impactful, and it’s one of those things you want to keep these moments going.”
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