For Frances Tiafoe, the hunger hasn’t faded - even if the results briefly did. After a disappointing 2025 season that saw the American slip out of the top 30 at the start of this year, Tiafoe (currently ranked 28) has been forced into reflection. Aiming to reignite his spark, the 28-year-old reshuffled his coaching team in the off-season, bringing in performance specialist Mark Kovacs to sharpen the finer details of his game. While his Australian Open campaign ended in a loss to Alex de Minaur, Tiafoe’s perspective remains grounded and ambitious.

Following Melbourne, Tiafoe returned to home soil for the American hard-court swing. A second-round exit at the Dallas Open raised further questions, but he quickly steadied the ship in Delray Beach, defeating Rinky Hijikata 6-4, 6-4 to move into the next round. Speaking to the media afterward, Tiafoe made one thing crystal clear: his love for tennis remains intact. “I got in the top 100 when I was 18, I’ve played all the Slams about 10/11 times, and now getting to the backend of my career, I’m just trying to see what I can squeeze out of the lemon,” he said.

And what exactly does he want to squeeze out? Three major milestones. “I want to see if I have a chance at the big one. I want to see if I can play Turin. I want to see if I can be in the top 10, top five, or whatever the case may be, and push the big guys,” he added.

But this wasn’t the first time that we’ve seen Frances Tiafoe speak about his big tennis goals. Back in 2023, Tiafoe openly stated that winning a Slam was his top priority, even joking that if he won Wimbledon, fans might “never see me again.” In 2024, he doubled down, saying his real goal was to win majors and compete consistently at the top for five or six years.

His best opportunities so far have come at the US Open, where he has reached the semifinals twice (2022, 2024). Though he has previously cracked the top 10, he has never qualified for the season-ending ATP Finals - another box he’s eager to tick. Yet beyond rankings and trophies, there’s perspective.

“I mean, I’ve done it, I’ve played it, I’ve seen it, but it’s not easy getting up and doing it year after year,” he admitted. “But at the same time, a ton of gratitude… I love the game of tennis. I still love it.”

Frances Tiafoe now advances to face Zachary Svajda in the second round of the Delray Beach Open. Delray holds special meaning for the American. It was here that he won his maiden ATP title in 2018. Overall, Tiafoe owns three career singles titles, with his most recent triumph coming on the grass courts of Stuttgart in 2023. Now, as he searches for his fourth ATP title and his first since 2023, the goals remain towering but clear. What else did he say, though, after progressing to the R16 of the Delray Beach Open?

Frances Tiafoe is “happy” with the start at the 2026 Delray Beach Open

With this straight-sets victory over Rinky Hijikata, Frances Tiafoe has now taken his H2H record to 2-1 against the Aussie. It didn’t take long for Frances Tiafoe to find his rhythm in Florida.

The American needed just 73 minutes to secure a confident opening win at the Delray Beach Open and, more importantly, rediscover his smile.

After the match, Tiafoe sounded relieved and energized while speaking to the crowd. “I’m happy, I’m happy. Really happy about it. I thought I played pretty well tonight. I hope you guys enjoyed it; it was fun. Good stuff. Thanks, everybody, for coming out. It’s nice to have another home tournament.”

With the victory, the former champion improved his record at the event to an impressive 12-4, reinforcing why the tournament has often brought out his best tennis. Up next for Tiafoe is fellow American Zachary Svajda. A win would move him one step closer to a fourth ATP singles title.

On paper, Tiafoe enters as the favorite thanks to experience and pedigree, but consistency has been his biggest challenge over the past season. If he maintains the aggressive returning and confident shot-making from his opener, the path could open up quickly in Delray.

Whether he clears the hurdle remains to be seen, but momentum has clearly returned to his side. How far do you think Frances Tiafoe can reach at the 2026 Delray Beach Open? Share your thoughts with us in the comment box.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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