The rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Frances Tiafoe is all set to get renewed, with the duo set to face off against each other in the quarterfinals of the ErsteBank Open in Vienna. This is their first meeting since their infamous meeting two years ago at the same venue when Sinner accused the American of showing “disrespect” to him, while he was trying to serve.
The controversy surrounding their previous match occurred when Jannik was serving for the match at 6-3, 5-3. After bouncing, when he was about to toss the ball to serve, Tiafoe was heard shouting from the other side of the net, thus distracting the Italian. The strategy paid dividends as Frances broke serve and kept himself in the contest.
The last match in Vienna was controversial 😬
Tiafoe, when Jannik serves for the match, start trying to deconcentrate Jan by, for example, shouting before the serve and won in 3 set.
At the end of the match Jannik said that Tiafoe “went too far” and “there was no respect”. https://t.co/5elTAjreZo pic.twitter.com/4deD9WvTB0
— Janniksin_Updates (@JannikSinner_Up) October 26, 2023
Sinner was furious with what had unfolded and opined, “Today Tiafoe went too far, has done too much. It is one thing when the player tries to put on a show to put on a bit of a show, but it is quite another when you start to disrespect.” He blasted Tiafoe for his behavior at a critical juncture in the match.
Tiafoe responded, “If the crowd is there it is for a reason, so I understand that I can interact with it. Jannik had his chance to win the match, but then I started playing a great level of tennis, I started having fun on the court…” He concluded quoting that there was no guilt in how he behaved.
“If the the crowd is there it is for a reason, so I understand that I can interact with it. Jannik had his chance to win the match, but then I started playing a great level of tennis, I started having fun on the court. I don’t feel guilty for what happened.”
Frances Tiafoe
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) October 31, 2021
Not only was Tiafoe able to break Sinner’s serve, but it jolted his chances, as he was able to win only two more games for the remainder of the match, losing 6-3, 5-7, 2-6. Thus, Sinner would be hoping to avenge the defeat when they face off.
Jannik Sinner vs. Frances Tiafoe head-to-head and stats comparison
Both players have gone on to improve immensely since they last met. Sinner is currently ranked at world no. 4, which is a career-high ranking for him, while Tiafoe had a breakthrough at Grand Slams reaching the semifinals of the US Open, thus breaking into the top 10.
Jannik has an enviable win-loss record of 53-14 in 2023. In Vienna, the Italian has overhauled the big serving Ben Shelton, and world no.52, Lorenzo Sonego, en route to the quarterfinals. The Italian has 3 titles to his credit in 2023, winning in Montpellier, Toronto, and Beijing. In total, Sinner has won 10 titles which includes 4 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, and 5 on indoor courts.
Frances with a record of 40-19 in 2023, has beaten world no.35, Daniel Evans, and the world no.89, Gael Monfils in Vienna, to reach the quarterfinals. Tiafoe has clinched 3 titles in 2023 in Australia, Houston and Stuttgart. The American has won 4 titles in all, which includes 2 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, and 1 on grass courts.
The head-to-head between the two players is led by Sinner, 2-1. Before their last meeting in Vienna, Sinner had defeated Tiafoe at the European Open in Antwerp after which he went on to win at the group stages of the Next Gen Finals. Both players will next be seen in action at the Paris Masters, starting off from the main draw.