American tennis player Frances Tiafoe, currently ranked 29th in the world, emphasized that he truly enjoys matches when he approaches them with a positive mindset.
Question: Frances, you`re an amazing athlete and a true showman. You once said you could play with joy, joke around, and still perform at a high level. Do you still feel that way? And do you think it`s possible to win a Grand Slam by aiming for highlight-reel plays?
Tiafoe: I think that`s been a bit misinterpreted, as if I`m the only one who has to be myself. Honestly, I love this game, and I love playing with a smile on my face. To be frank, I just need to get back to that. I`ve lost a lot of the joy in playing, but when I`m happy, I play well. It`s somewhat connected to those flashy highlights and cool shots. I feel like I`m knocking on the door, and it’s almost closing when I’m being myself, and I genuinely believe I can do it.
Question: If someone wrote a guide titled `How to Calm Frances Tiafoe in 10 Seconds,` what would be written in the first chapter?
Tiafoe: How to calm me down? And right in the first chapter? (Smiles) I don`t even know what interesting things could be suggested there… Oh man, I really don`t know, I have no idea (smiles). I have no clue, it would have to be something lighthearted.
Question: Is that even possible?
Tiafoe: Yeah, yeah, something not serious, something funny, so that`s acceptable.
Question: Frances, you`re an NBA fan. Which player would you swap lives with for a day? Would it be a day when a player scores around 70 points, or the seventh game of the NBA Finals?
Tiafoe: You know, LeBron James. LeBron James is my favorite. I`d love to play Game 7, but I`d especially want to experience what LeBron went through when he was down 3-1 in the Finals series and ultimately pulled it off. I`d want to feel that, 100%.
Question: If your girlfriend, Ayan Broomfield, were your coach and sitting in the player`s box during a match, what would you…
Tiafoe: Oh no, no, no! I love her more than life itself, but that`s just not going to happen.
Question: What would be her first instructions and how should she act?
Tiafoe: Well, you know, she would be in boss mode, commanding me as usual, constantly pointing out what I`m doing wrong. And most likely, she would be telling me to work my legs, watch my forehand, and all that, to stay positive. She hates it when I act negatively, so that`s probably what she`d be doing.
Jasper Carew