Frances Tiafoe has suffered a setback ahead of the final leg of the North American hardcourt swing. The American was forced to retire from his third-round match at the Canadian Open in Montréal, ending his hopes of capturing a maiden ATP Masters 1000 title and raising concerns ahead of the Cincinnati Open and the US Open.
Tiafoe later took to Instagram to reveal the reason behind his retirement against Arthur Rinderknech on Thursday.
Frances Tiafoe Apologizes to Canadian Open Fans After Abandoning His Match
Tiafoe began what is arguably his favorite stretch of the season at his home tournament in Washington, D.C. However, his campaign was short-lived, as he fell to Terence Atmane 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in his opening match. The American was also due to compete in the doubles event alongside Nick Kyrgios but withdrew before the match, citing a wrist injury.
Seeded 15th in Montréal, Tiafoe secured a direct entry into the second round, where he staged a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 comeback against Marin Čilić. He, however, couldn’t replicate the result against Rinderknech on August 6 after losing the first set 6-2.
When the Frenchman broke Tiafoe’s serve to take a 2-0 lead in the second set, the American called it quits. Moments earlier, he had been heard telling his coach, “I’m hurting.” In his Instagram message, he confirmed right-hand discomfort.
“Sorry to the fans out here in Montréal who came out to watch me tonight. I’ve been dealing with a right-hand injury for a little bit now. I tried to play, but need the rest. Until next time. Thanks for the love,” he said.
Despite the setback, Tiafoe has enjoyed a strong season and presently ranks among the tour’s top five in match wins, compiling a 32-15 record. He also captured the biggest title of his career at the ATP 500 event in Halle in June. After his opening-round victory in Montréal, the former World No. 10 expressed confidence in his game heading into the US Open.
“I’m right there. I feel like I’m flirting with some monumental result. I’ve been knocking on the door. I’ve been showing up every week, becoming consistent most weeks. I’m giving myself a chance,” he said on the Tennis Channel.
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Frances Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semifinalist, would hope to recover in time for the Cincinnati Open, where he is again defending a fourth-round appearance from last year. Meanwhile, in 2024 he produced his best result at the tournament, reaching his maiden Masters 1000 final, where he fell short against Jannik Sinner.
