When Frances Tiafoe walks on Grandstand Monday to face Daniil Medvedev for a spot in the Miami Open presented by Itau quarter-finals, the American will not be intimidated.
It doesn’t matter that the Russian star has won all three of their ATP Head2Head meetings, and that he only dropped five games against Tiafoe at last year’s US Open. Medvedev is the top seed and a three-time ATP Masters 1000 champion, but that’s okay, too. The World No. 58 fully believes he can spring the upset.
“I’m not afraid. I respect a lot of guys, but I’m not afraid of anybody on the Tour,” Tiafoe said. “I don’t have that scared [mentality] of already being a break down when I go out there. When I play these guys, I’m here to win. This is my court and they have to be sharing it.
“You almost have to flip the psyche of the situation. I’m ready to go. I got three good matches under my belt and I’m ready to go. It’s going to be a good one.”
Entering this tournament, Tiafoe had only rallied from a set down in a tour-level match once since the 2019 Mutua Madrid Open, and that came at last year’s US Open against Andreas Seppi.
The American has lost the first set in all three of his matches this week, and battled back each time to make the Round of 16 in Miami for the third time. This marked the first event where Tiafoe has won three straight matches on the ATP Tour from a set down.
“It’s growth. Those are the things I’m looking to do. It’s been great this week,” Tiafoe said. “[Losing the first set has] definitely made it tougher. I wish I could win these matches easier, but those are hell of a players… these are the matches I need to start winning and I’m happy I am.”
One thing Tiafoe has never had a problem with is raising his level to compete against the world’s best. At this year’s Australian Open, he pushed eventual champion and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic to four sets, which included two tie-breaks. At the 2017 US Open, Tiafoe battled into a fifth set against Roger Federer.
“Those are the moments you live for. You live for those moments to play the best players in the world and see where you’re at and try to shake the world,” Tiafoe said. “That’s what I live for. It’s box office, it’s prime time. That’s what I’m about and I’m going to come for him.”
Although their meeting in Flushing Meadows last year was one-sided, Tiafoe has challenged the Russian before. At last year’s Australian Open, the American extended their match to four sets.
“You know he’s going to serve great. He’s going to run down balls, he’s going to put balls in awkward positions and make you play the extra ball time after time. You have to understand that and be okay with that,” Tiafoe said. “You have to go in with that mindset.
“[It is] understanding that that’s what it’s going to be. He’s waiting for you to crack. And [you have to] try to make an impact, stay super mentally tough. It’s not going to be easy. He’s one of the toughest customers we have and I’m just going to compete really hard.”
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Tiafoe arrived in Miami with just a 6-6 record on the season. After his strong effort against Djokovic in Melbourne Park, the 23-year-old tried his hand on clay in South America, where he went 3-3. But an upset against Medvedev would not just put Tiafoe in his second Masters 1000 quarter-final; it would set him on an upwards trajectory for the rest of 2021.
“It’d be massive because I’ve had a pretty slow start to the year,” Tiafoe admitted. “This week I’ve been getting wins, tough wins, it’s big. Winning tomorrow would be huge. That changes your whole mindset for the rest of the year. You take one event to change your whole perspective and you just keep riding that wave.
“I’m really looking forward to tomorrow and for the people who don’t, they’re going to see tomorrow. I believe I can beat anybody.”
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