Frances Tiafoe Faces Pressure Ahead of French Open Clash

PARIS, France — Frances Tiafoe is under pressure as he heads into the French Open, set to face Roman Safiullin in the first round on Sunday, May 25. The 27-year-old American has struggled for consistency in 2025, managing only one quarterfinal finish across multiple tournaments.

His year started poorly with a second-round exit and continued with a lackluster 4-4 record in subsequent events. Tiafoe did show some promise in Houston but fell short against fellow American Jenson Brooksby. In total, he won just four of his next nine matches ahead of this Grand Slam.

In a pre-tournament press conference, Tiafoe expressed his frustrations regarding the tennis balls used on the ATP Tour. “I think all of the balls are horrendous, other than the balls at the US Open,” he stated. Tiafoe often dismisses the ball controversy, suggesting it is not a primary factor in matches.

His sentiments echo those of other players, including world number three who recently lost to Lorenzo Musetti. “Balls were a joke today,” he remarked about ball consistency across tournaments. “It’s just how it is these days,” he added.

Despite these issues, Tiafoe remains confident as he looks towards the clay courts of Roland Garros. He believes he can triumph against any opponent with the right mindset. “No matter what I’m ranked, I feel like I’m one of the best players out here,” he said. However, he has only won four matches at this particular Grand Slam.

In their previous encounter at the 2024 event, Tiafoe lost to Safiullin in a tight three-set match. Following the match, he was upset with a time violation call that may have impacted his performance. Tiafoe will need to manage his emotions better as he prepares to face Safiullin again.