Frances Tiafoe eyes ending American men’s Grand Slam drought at US Open

NEW YORK — Big Foe is ready to take the Big Apple by storm once again.

Frances Tiafoe, coming off making the final at the Cincinnati Masters, is on a hot streak, climbing all the way to No. 12 in the ATP rankings before entering the last Grand Slam of the year at the U.S. Open.

The 28-year-old Maryland native, who was ranked 30th at the beginning of 2026, says his nutrition is key to his success and laments how difficult it is to lose weight if you are not careful. Tiafoe is a Clif Bar official brand athlete and has even helped develop some of the company’s numerous energy bars.

“I think the biggest thing is just kind of you’ve got to treat it like a lifestyle. You got to have like a couple of cheat days, and you got to have those cheat days in,” Tiafoe told USA TODAY Sports. “And obviously in a tournament, for example, after a long match, what you do right after is critical. Getting the food in immediately – whatever, protein shakes, Clif Bars, whatever case you’re in.

“But I love cookies and cream. I am bad, bro. For real. But when I am locked in, I’m pretty plain. Protein, rice, and just greens, pretty much; I like to eat the same things. There is no guesswork.”

American men’s Grand Slam drought

Before every Grand Slam, the same questions linger around the American men on tour, as their championship drought will extend to 23 years if none of them can win this U.S. Open. Andy Roddick’s three-set victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero in 2003 remains locked in players’ minds, especially since the retirement of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, and with 39-year-old Novak Djokovic possibly winding down his career in the next few years. The arrival of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz haven’t made things easier for Americans, or anyone else, for that matter.

Tiafoe is a two-time semifinalist at Flushing Meadows and believes that infamous losing streak will be coming to an end soon.

“It’s gonna be a conversation until someone does something about it, right? Obviously, we are, and we’re getting the best effort. Look, it is what it is. Andy did what he did a few years ago. But I think we’ve been knocking on the door,” Tiafoe said.

“But this U.S. Open specifically. I’m ready to see what I can do. I’m excited for it, man. I mean, take it day by day, take what’s ahead of you, take what comes. But yeah, hell yeah, I believe it. Ain’t nothing like it, especially at night. Everybody’s lit, like the energy’s just crazy because they want it so bad, there are so many different people and New York’s the biggest melting pot in the world. We ain’t competing against no other sports, so everybody’s coming out.”

Increased prize money, loaded schedule

Another point of contention has been the prize money players earn on tour. The U.S. Open is the biggest Grand Slam in terms of prize money, with each singles winner earning $5.5 million, up from the $5 million made last year by Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka

Tiafoe says he welcomed the increase in money, as the four majors announced a Grand Slam Player Advisory Council to begin after the U.S. Open, focusing on all things tennis, including player welfare, economics and the sport’s governance.

“5.5 was huge,” Tiafoe said. “First-round prize money is 140 ($140,000). When I played the U.S. Open in 2015, that was my first one. It was probably 40.” Tiafoe wasn’t far off, as players who lost in the first round of the main singles draw that year took home $39,500.

While the money has improved, the schedule hasn’t.

Tiafoe made the finals in Cincinnati, losing to France’s Arthur Fils (3-6, 6-1, 0-6), concluding his sixth match in seven tournament days.

He will immediately fly to New York to play with his mixed doubles partner, Canadian Leylah Fernandez, starting Aug. 25, before the singles matches start on Aug. 30.

“I mean it’s hard, man. I gotta play mixed doubles on Tuesday in New York. It ain’t easy, and it’s a catch-22 for me. We complain about trying to eat, right? Then they give us a lot of opportunities to eat. You gotta prioritize the thing, right? So, the problem is they’re making the tournament so long. I do think these tournaments should be one week and not 12 days,” Tiafoe said.

“Yeah, I don’t like it. I still think you know the prize money in at least the ATPs, and these tournaments haven’t risen enough for these tournaments to be 12 days. And not only is it 12 days, but you’re also still paying for your whole team to be out here extra days and days that you ain’t playing. So, there’s, like, a lot of wasted days. But, hey, I don’t make the rules.”

Advice for young tennis players

History was made in Cincinnati when Fils and Tiafoe reached the final, marking the first time two Black players played in an ATP Masters 1000 final. For young players, especially African Americans who want to follow in his footsteps, Tiafoe had some pointed advice: get involved with local clubs and tennis programs.

Tiafoe honed his skills during his teenage years at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, saying he was in the facility every day trying to get better.

“Try to reach out to one of the local clubs where they give you a chance to play,” Tiafoe said when asked for advice he would give to any up-and-coming tennis player. “And then once you get in that door, man, just come in there hungry, especially when you’re young. You gotta be obsessed with this thing, man, because tennis is such a repetitive sport. You gotta really get them reps in. But mostly, you have to love it.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Frances Tiafoe eyes ending American men’s Grand Slam drought at US Open