In a series of exclusive features for SuperSport.com, Grant Shub speaks to former world No 6 and current coach of Frances Tiafoe, Wayne Ferreira, about his protege’s rise through the ranks and what we can expect from the 2023 edition of the US Open.
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After straight set wins over USA’s Learner Tien and Austria’s Sebastian Ofner, Frances Tiafoe booked safe passage to the third round where he will come up against experienced Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. ‘Big Foe’ has mixed up his game well so far in the Big Apple, with his coach Ferreira encouraging an all-court game from his charge.
Ferreira, who enjoyed 56 consecutive Grand Slam appearances and was a force on the ATP tour in the late 1990s and early 2000s, says the game has evolved since he hung up his racquet and if you don’t adapt to the modern style of play, you will get left behind.
MODERN GAME A DIFFERENT BEAST
“I wouldn't say tennis today is better or worse, it’s just different,” says the 51-year-old mentor. “There is a lot of power in today’s game and the ball is hit harder and flatter. In terms of Frances, he still has things to improve and the serve is an area he can get better at. When we began, he didn’t have a bad serve by any means but he can improve and it can become a dominant part of his game. The rest of his game is coming along nicely. He strikes the ball well, moves effectively and is very good off the ground.”
The Johannesburg-born coach, who is based in South Carolina these days, believes that facing the cream of the crop can only be good for Tiafoe’s development and draws reference to his own playing career. “I was lucky to play through quite a few generations and came up against Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Jimmy Connors. They were all special and I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to play all of them and have the career that I had.”
BRIGHT OUTFIT, BIG PERSONALITY
While Tiafoe has been making headlines on the court with his attacking play and bold fashion sense courtesy of Nike’s new teal sleeveless top and red statement shoes – in the on-court interview post his first round match against Learner, the dynamic Tiafoe asked the crowd,“Y’all liking my fit or what?” – it’s a team effort behind the scenes.
Along with Ferreira, who is the head coach, Jordi Arconada assists with the coaching and serves as Tiafoe’s hitting partner, Bret Waltz works as his strength and conditioning coach and a concierge physiotherapist, while Frank Costello is the team’s fitness coach.
A TEAM EFFORT OFF THE COURT
“It’s pretty much the same group of us that travel around together week-in and week-out,” says Ferreira. “It’s of course a team effort because a lot is put into the game nowadays with regard to both hitting tennis balls and then on the physical side as well.”
Ferreira notes that strength and training in the modern game is key, coupled with recovery and physio work to ensure a top-level player remains healthy. “It’s a big business now with most people having a team our size in order to take care of a player.”
“I have a strong relationship with Frances and we’re having good success so we will keep going as long as it’s heading in the right direction,” says Ferreira, who has had an iPad in front of him at Tiafoe’s matches with the latest analytics at his fingertips. “We have a goal in terms of what we’d like to achieve and it’s still going to take a little while to get there. I'd like Frances to be consistent. The first two rounds were important for him to come out and be really focused and intense and then it obviously gets tougher.”
GIVING BACK TO THE GAME
In terms of Tiafoe’s African roots and his popularity on the continent, Ferreira encourages his player’s endeavours away from the court and is fully supportive of the Frances Tiafoe Fund, within the USTA Foundation, which came to life at the end of July.
“I’m not too sure to be honest what Frances’s success means to Africa because I don’t really follow what they say but anytime somebody from the African continent does well it’s good for the hemisphere,” says Ferreira, who flew the South African flag in a career that was from 1989 to 2005. “Frances is for sure significant in promoting black tennis in America and he tries really hard to do the right thing so that he can inspire the children.”
PARENTS TAKE A BACK SEAT
Tiafoe’s parents, Frances Sr and Alphina, are in New York supporting their son and traditionally attend the Grand Slams. His father, who has been in his box each match, moved to Washington DC from Sierra Leone during the civil war in 1993. He worked at the Junior National Tennis Centre to secure a better future for his sons – Frances and Franklin. The latter is a volunteer coach for Howard University’s Tennis programme.
“Frances’s parents are great,” says Ferreira. “They don’t travel around with us very much but when we do see them at the tournaments, we go to dinner and hang out. They are sweet people and stay out of it and let us do our job without getting too heavily involved. They trust us with Frances which is so good and we all get along really well.”