Frances Tiafoe’s second bid to clinch the Cincinnati Open title ended in disappointment, two years after he suffered his first Masters 1000 final defeat at the tournament, losing to Jannik Sinner. The American came up short against French tennis star Arthur Fils in the title clash on Sunday, August 23.
Tiafoe struggled with physical discomfort during Fils’ 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 win but chose not to dwell on it, instead praising his opponent for earning his first Masters 1000 title.
Frances Tiafoe Briefly Addresses Physical Discomfort After Cincinnati Open Final
Tiafoe, the 17th seed, produced a string of impressive performances at the Masters 1000 event, defeating Lorenzo Sonego, Learner Tien, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Lorenzo Musetti, and Brandon Nakashima to reach his second final at the level.
However, he struggled to keep pace with the 22-year-old Fils. Although he conceded just one game in the second set after losing the first, his level dropped significantly in the decider, which he lost 6-0.
Tiafoe also called for a medical timeout (MTO) but when asked the issue in his press conference, he said. “That’s not important. He’s won his first Masters 1000. It’s not about how I felt. It’s his moment, his Sunday. I’ve been dealing with a lot of things this week, obviously.”
“My hip was bothering me a little bit, but that’s neither here nor there,” the American added. “He got on me early. I had some chances there early in the third and didn’t take them. And you know, it’s tennis. It’s been a long week. I haven’t played that many matches. I haven’t practiced that much since Wimbledon. So, ultimately, I feel great.”
Tiafoe’s run was nothing short of extraordinary, especially considering he underwent minor surgery for a cyst on his right hand after retiring mid-match at the Canadian Open just 10 days before his opening match in Cincinnati.
“I wanted to break a milestone for myself, of course,” 28-year-old said before turning his attention to the champion. “He did a great job getting out of trouble there a little bit early in the third set and running with momentum.”
Frances Tiafoe will now set his sights on the US Open, where he has been a semifinalist twice, in 2022 and 2024. His Cincinnati resurgence could make him a serious contender for another deep run, with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner absent and uncertainty surrounding defending champion Carlos Alcaraz’s form following his lengthy injury layoff.
