Eye of the Coach #62: How Frances Tiafoe adapted to become a “hell of a player”

Anyone who watched Frances Tiafoe beat Rafael Nadal at the US Open on Monday will know that the American is right on top of his game.

In the latest episode of Eye of the Coach, Patrick Mouratoglou explains how Tiafoe has adapted his game to become more aggressive, standing closer to the baseline and attacking with his backhand.

Key moments:

• 0.17: Mouratoglou says one of the problems in the past for Tiafoe was that he has not had a defined playing style. That, he says, is changing. I think more and more he is defining his style.
• 045: Tiafoe was always a great athlete but now he has become more aggressive, especially on his backhand. “When he sticks to the baseline like this, he’s super dangerous.
• 1.24: While the backhand has always been and remains his strength, his forehand has also improved, Mouratoglou says. “Before, if you were playing fast on his forehand he was making lots of unforced errors because his contact point was moving a lot. Now he is able to adapt.”
• 1.34: “I see him now as a counterpuncher, aggressive player,” Mouratoglou says. “When he plays like that he’s a hell of a player.

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