Frances Tiafoe feels overlooked despite top-10 ranking
Frances Tiafoe says he feels underrated in American tennis and aims to become the top-ranked American. The world number eight trails Ben Shelton by 1,300 points.
Frances Tiafoe believes he is still being overlooked in the conversation about top American tennis players. The 28-year-old, currently ranked eighth in the world, shared his thoughts on a recent podcast appearance.
Tiafoe reached the US Open semi-finals this year, losing to compatriot Ben Shelton. That result helped him achieve a career-high ranking. He is now well-positioned to qualify for the ATP Finals for the first time. Despite this, he feels other Americans like Shelton, Taylor Fritz, and Learner Tien often receive more attention as potential Grand Slam champions.
Tiafoe's ambition to become American number one
"To be honest with you, I still feel like I am slept on," Tiafoe said on the 'Big T Podcast'. He stated he is not comfortable with being eighth in the world and wants to push into the top five globally. His immediate goal is to become the number one American player.
He acknowledged the challenge, noting the depth of talent. "Being the number one American is tough now! We have a lot of great Americans," Tiafoe said, listing Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, and Learner Tien. He emphasized the need to perform well in major tournaments and Masters 1000 events.
The ranking gap is significant. Tiafoe currently sits 1,300 points behind American leader Ben Shelton. Even winning one of the two remaining Masters 1000 tournaments this year would leave him 300 points shy of Shelton.
Here is a look at the current top American men in the ATP rankings:
| Rank (USA) | Player | ATP Ranking | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Shelton | #4 | 4,680 |
| 2 | Frances Tiafoe | #8 | 3,380 |
| 3 | Taylor Fritz | #10 | 3,175 |
| 4 | Learner Tien | #13 | 2,715 |
| 5 | Brandon Nakashima | #16 | 2,410 |
The path forward in a crowded field
Globally, Tiafoe is 340 points behind world number seven Flavio Cobolli. Felix Auger-Aliassime at number five is a further 170 points ahead. The American sees 2026 as a bounce-back year after a difficult 2025 season.
His next opportunity comes at the Japan Open, which begins on Monday, September 28. After Tokyo, he is scheduled to play the Shanghai Masters before the European indoor swing.
Defining his best tennis
Tiafoe also described the style of play he considers his best. He focuses on finding forehands from the center of the court and approaching the net. He believes his volleying has become crisper and more reliable.
He contrasted his game with the prevalent baseline style. A lot of the guys now, everyone hits the ball so pure from the back, and it’s kind of boring, non-thinking tennis, Tiafoe remarked. He argued his ability to come forward and volley effectively adds a different kind of pressure on opponents.
Maintaining his current form could lead to a debut at the ATP Finals in Turin. Tiafoe is currently sixth in the 'Live ATP Race' to Turin. The season-ending event starts on Sunday, November 15.
