ATP Tour

My Masters 1000: Frances Tiafoe

Frances Tiafoe has always brought electric energy to the Tour, but the ATP Masters 1000 stage holds a special meaning for the American.

From partying in Madrid with footballing icons to dreaming of lifting the trophy in his girlfriend’s hometown of Toronto, these tournaments blend competition with culture in a way that fuels his game. Tiafoe, who notably reached his first final at that level in Cincinnati last year, recently sat down with ATPTour.com to open up about his favourite ATP Masters 1000 memories.

What’s your favourite ATP Masters 1000 host city and why?
Madrid is fire, I love Madrid. I’m cool with some guys at Real Madrid, I like to hang out with those guys, that’s cool. The food is great there, the people are so nice. Partying is fire, nightlife is great. The city itself is cool. I like places where you can walk around: There’s a lot of good dining, there’s a good energy around. Going to Real Madrid matches is nice.

What’s your favourite match win at a Masters 1000?
Against Rune to make the finals in Cincinnati last year, it was a crazy match. Obviously making my first final at a Masters series, that was big.

Tiafoe saves two match points vs. Rune to reach Cincinnati 2024 final:

Do you remember your main-draw debut at a Masters 1000 event?
Yeah, I played Fritz! I just remember thinking: ‘What are the chances? We’re both young, coming up’. He was actually doing well, in the Top 100, I was just outside. I was playing really well and I remember a lot more people thought he was going to win, and then I came out and won. I was pretty pumped.

Which Masters 1000 would you like to win the most?
I would take any of them, but if I had to pick one, probably Toronto with my girl being from there. Toronto would be sick. Also any of the ones in the States, they would be great.

Do you have a dream opponent to beat in the final?
Any of the best ones: Sinner, Alcaraz, Zverev, Nole [Djokovic]. In the final, you want to beat one of the best players in the world, no question. In Cincinnati, I played Sinner in the final. If you win that, you feel super fulfilled. You can’t run away from the battle.

What’s your favourite court at a Masters 1000?
Indian Wells centre court, it’s sick.

_{^{Frances Tiafoe reached the semi-finals in Indian Wells in 2023. Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images.}} 

Were there any big Masters 1000 matches that stood out when you were younger?
Rafa-Novak, Madrid ‘09. Rafa was down match points, he hit a crazy forehand inside-in to save match point… It was an absolute war. That’s one that stands out.

Any matches from recent times that have stood out?
Alcaraz-Sinner, Miami 2023, the level they were playing at was just insane. One of my favourite all-time matches at a Masters 1000, right now, is actually an old school one: Kyrgios-Federer, Miami 2017. The level… Crazy.