Frances Tiafoe knows how to keep things light, even when the stakes are high. His latest interview didn’t just reveal how he feels about his tennis career, but also gave fans another glimpse at his fun relationship with Jessica Pegula. If you’re wondering how these two American stars connect, wait until you hear what Tiafoe had to say about his favorite training partner, and why she doesn’t want to hit with him anymore.
Why Doesn’t Jessica Pegula Want to Hit With Frances Tiafoe These Days?
Tiafoe, ranked No. 14 in the world on the men’s side, loves showing off his lively personality. Whether he’s cracking jokes in interviews or going back and forth on social media, he’s never short on entertainment. During a chat with The Guardian, Tiafoe laughed about how Pegula, the No. 4 woman in the world, might be “too big time” after her recent run of success.
“She (Pegula) hits the ball so pure and right in pocket every time,” he told The Guardian. “She’s pretty relaxed as well.”
But these days, Tiafoe said, the billionaire heiress doesn’t want to hit with him much. According to him, “She doesn’t want to hit with me anymore. She’s made some finals now in some slams, 1000s, and she doesn’t want to talk to me as much anymore. She got too big time for me. She forgot about the little people.” The joke landed, he made it clear it’s all in good fun and part of their ongoing banter.
What’s the Story Behind Frances Tiafoe and Jessica Pegula’s Friendship?
Back in 2023, these two teamed up to help the United States win the first edition of the United Cup. Their bond was easy to see, both on and off the court. That year, Pegula and Tiafoe hit together plenty of times as they competed at the Australian Open. Pegula herself called Tiafoe the “biggest hype person ever” during a press conference.
“My nerves usually come out in practice where I’m not hitting well and I’m freaking out, and Frances is just so happy-go-lucky,” she said after her first-round win that year. “The biggest hype person ever.”
She added, “He (Tiafoe) says he feels like the best player in the world when he hits with me. We give each other a little confidence, I guess.” Their positive energy helped both players stay loose during tough matches in the 2024-25 campaign.
How Has Frances Tiafoe Fared in the 2025 Tennis Season?
Tiafoe hasn’t had the smoothest ride in 2025, but he’s pulled off some highlights. His best result at a Grand Slam came at the French Open, where he made it all the way to the quarterfinals. That showed he’s still got plenty left in the tank.
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Moving into the American hard-court swing, Tiafoe’s game has kept fans talking. He made the quarterfinals at the Citi Open, where he lost to Ben Shelton, an in-form fellow American. Then at the National Bank Open in Toronto, he reached the Round of 16 before falling to Alex de Minaur from Australia.
Tiafoe’s start at the ongoing Cincinnati Open has also shown promise. In the Round of 64, as the No. 10 seed, he took care of business against Spaniard Roberto Carballés Baena, winning in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. Up next, he gets a real test: No. 20 seed Ugo Humbert at the Masters 1000 event. Fans might remember that last year, Tiafoe made it all the way to the Cincinnati final, only to run into World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the decider.
