The 2024 season hasn’t started well for Frances Tiafoe . The World No. 23 last played at the ATP-250 event in Houston where he was the defending champion. But he eventually lost in the finals and had to give up on his title.
Compatriot Ben Shelton beat him, denying him his first title of the season. He then chose to skip the 2024 Monte Carlo Masters and won’t feature in any events this week as well. Amid a string of poor results, he still got the backing of Roger Federer‘s former coach Paul Annacone.
Annacone is currently coaching Taylor Fritz but has been quite active as an analyst as well. He was recently seen on Tennis Channel’s show where he praised the World No. 23, showing confidence in his potential.
I think this is a situation where Frances is trying to figure out exactly what he needs in his corner, in his ear, and to me when you’re this talented and you’re this good and you have done what Frances Tiafoe has done, it’s not really a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. said Paul Annacone
Tiafoe has compiled a 10-8 record for the season, with a 7-7 record on hard courts and a 3-1 record on clay, highlighted by a runner-up finish in Houston. He was previously ranked in the Top-10 but fell out of this ranking in September 2023. Since then, his ranking has continued to drop, and he is currently positioned outside the Top-20.
Frances Tiafoe splits with his coach just after four months
On the brink of starting the 2024 season, Tiafoe rejoined forces with former pro Diego Moyano. But the partnership didn’t last long and ended just after four months.
Moyano, a former coach with the USTA, has also worked with Coco Gauff, Reilly Opelka, and Tommy Paul. He had also coached Kevin Anderson for almost three seasons before the South African’s retirement in 2022.
Neither of them gave details on why the decision to split was taken. The Argentine, however had only words of praise for the American promising to cheer for him irrespective of not being his coach anymore.
Tiafoe is now expected to feature directly at the 2024 Madrid Masters. He might make a late call on playing the Rome Challenger a few days before the event in Madrid. But it is not yet confirmed as he will now be without a head coach for a crucial period just before the 2024 French Open.
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