Frances Tiafoe has thrown his support behind Carlos Alcaraz in the ongoing debate over who will collect more Grand Slam titles, tipping the Spaniard ahead of Jannik Sinner while also stressing that the men’s game is crying out for fresh storylines.
The American, currently ranked world No. 17, is preparing to kick off his US Open run against Yoshihito Nishioka, with the prospect of a third-round showdown against Holger Rune looming large. Tiafoe has built a strong record in New York over the past three years, consistently making deep runs that included semi-final appearances in both 2022 and 2024.
In his pre-tournament press conference, conversation inevitably turned to the two biggest contenders in Flushing Meadows this year: Sinner and Alcaraz.
“I have been asked that so many times, it’s a funny question, because I’m playing in real time. Yeah, why don’t you have 20? You have 20? I’m sitting here with zero,” joked Tiafoe, when pressed on which of the two would ultimately finish with the most majors.
“If I had to honestly do it, I’m taking Carlos [Alcaraz].
“I mean, all-court game. It’s very, very tight, but I’m still taking Carlos.
“As I first mentioned, they’re going to get interrupted. It just has to happen. I can’t see them playing the finals every week.
“We need something new. The game needs something new. I love those guys. Shout out to both those guys. We need something new.
“I really like how different they are. [Jannik] Sinner is ice cold. Carlos, I mean, has an unbelievable game, plays the crowd.
“They’re both moving incredibly. One guy hits the ball super hard, and the other guy plays an all-court game.
“Yeah, they produce insane matches. It’s been fun to watch and fun to see those guys grow and continue to play at the highest level.”
Tiafoe’s view comes with the authority of experience. He has shared the court with both the world No. 1 and No. 2 and knows firsthand how difficult they are to overcome. Against Sinner, his record stands at 1-4, while Alcaraz has beaten him twice in three meetings.
For now, the numbers heavily favor the young giants of the sport. Between them, the Italian and the Spaniard have swept the last seven Grand Slam titles, a dominance that has reshaped the balance of power on tour. Their rivalry reached a peak at this year’s French Open, where they played out the longest final in Roland Garros history. Over five hours and 29 minutes, they produced a gripping marathon, with Alcaraz ultimately triumphing 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) after saving three championship points.
“There’s always been guys, quote unquote, that are gatekeepers of the tour. Those are the two guys doing it,” acknowledged Tiafoe.
“But ultimately, if you want to win one [a Grand Slam], you’ve got to beat those guys. Because it is what it is. Respect those guys. Incredible players. So young. They’re going to be at the top of the game for a while.
“We can’t be out there just putting them on a pedestal. We have to beat them if you want to do anything special.
“I have a ton of respect for those guys, but at the same time, if we link up in the draw, I feel I can beat them.”
With that blend of admiration and defiance, Tiafoe heads into the US Open determined not just to play witness to tennis’s next era, but to disrupt it.