After a gripping four-set battle on Number One Court, Frances Tiafoe faced the press with candor and composure following his unexpected second-round defeat to Britain’s Cameron Norrie at Wimbledon 2025. The American, seeded 12th, had entered the match with confidence after a commanding first-round win, but found himself outplayed by Norrie, who rallied from a set down to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.
Tiafoe acknowledged the intensity of the match and admitted he was surprised by Norrie’s level of play, particularly his serving. “I don’t think he has served that well in a really long time,” Tiafoe said. “He was serving at 75, something stupid per cent. I hardly got a look at the second serve. I was shocked at how well he served today. I have never seen him serve like that”.
While the crowd’s support for the home favorite was palpable, Tiafoe insisted it wasn’t the primary factor affecting his performance. Instead, he pointed to Norrie’s relentless energy and vocal celebrations as a source of irritation. “He was super amped, he was saying ‘Come on’ from the first game, which was definitely annoying. That probably bothered me more than the crowd,” he remarked.
Despite the frustration, Tiafoe remained gracious, crediting the crowd for fueling Norrie’s momentum. “They really pushed him and he started believing,” he said, noting that the Brit’s elevated play was likely influenced by the electric atmosphere on court.
Looking ahead, Tiafoe will shift his focus to the North American hardcourt season, with plans to compete at the Citi Open in Washington, DC later this month. As he regroups from this setback, the American remains a formidable presence on tour, determined to bounce back stronger.
Frances Tiafoe in 2025
Currently ranked no.12, Frances played his last match on the 1st of January 1970 when he surrendered to world no.61 Cameron Norrie 4-6 6-4 6-3 in the 2nd round in Wimbledon (draw).
At the moment, during this season the American owns a composed 18-15 record. Frances Tiafoe’s most significant result of the current season was getting to the final in Houston.