“Damn, this guy is going to be a problem for a long time” – Tiafoe recalls facing Alcaraz at the US Open

The American admits his five-set loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2022 US Open semi-final hurt for a long time

Carlos Alcaraz and Francis Tiafoe at the 2022 US Open Image Credit: Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic

April 3, 2024

American Frances Tiafoe recalled his facing Carlos Alcaraz during their intense five-set semi-final at the 2022 US Open, which the Spaniard won en route to winning his first Grand Slam title. Alcaraz won that epic semi-final 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 and Tiafoe knew that the Spaniard was here to create trouble for his peers on the tour for a long time.

“I was like, ‘This dude, I’m going to have to go through this.’ I was even thinking about it during the match like, ‘Damn, this guy is going to be a problem for a long time,'” Tiafoe revealed on a recent episode of the Good Trouble podcast with Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios.

“And competing against a guy like that who is giving it all, I’m giving it my all, I’m cursing at the crowd like, ‘Give me f**king everything.’ Taking the L at the end was tough, but it was one of the best experiences of my life. I felt like the crowd was literally on my fingertips, something I will remember for the rest of my life.”

I’m thinking about what that would’ve been to just go and hold that trophy, at least have the chance to compete for that trophy.

Tiafoe, now ranked 21st in the world, admitted that he often thinks about the match, knowing how close he was to reaching the final of his home Grand Slam event.

“I think about that fifth set, like I’m one set away from the US Open final. I was thinking of the highs of it. Just walking on the court, I’m thinking about what that would’ve been to just go and hold that trophy, at least have the chance to compete for that trophy. I think about it all the time, like even sometimes when I see the guy (Alcaraz), I just want to knock him out. Obviously, he’s the nicest guy in the world, so, of course not, but it’s one of those that hurt.”