"Let's have a great Sunday": Pumped-up Frances Tiafoe eyes second ATP title in Houston in three years

America’s Frances Tiafoe has his eyes set on getting one step further in the ongoing ATP Houston event. The 27-year-old cemented his spot in the final of the competition after beating Brandon Nakashima in the last-four clash in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 7-6.

It will be his third consecutive final in the competition in the last three years. In the previous two finals, he won one and suffered a defeat in the other. In the 2023 final, he defeated Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 7-6. Last year, he came one step short of defending his title after losing to fellow American Ben Shelton in the final with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

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Ahead of the all-important finale, Tiafoe, in a video released on the social media platform Instagram, has expressed his desire to go one step further this time around than last year. "What's up Houston! Another final, third year in a row! Super happy about it! I love playing here, I love being here. I love everybody involved so let's get it done tomorrow. Last year, I came up short, but more importantly, let's have some fun, let's have a great Sunday," he said.

Tiafoe will face America’s Jenson Brooksby in the final of the competition. The 24-year-old secured the upset of the competition as he defeated top-seed Tommy Paul with a score of 7-6, 3-6, 7-6. Talking after the match, the current 507th-ranked player stated that the results have been really positive for him regardless of the final’s outcome.

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“I think regardless of what happens tomorrow, it's a huge positive for me this week. Huge,” said Brooksby as quoted by ATP’s official website. “I’m proud of the work I've put in, even last year heading into this year, and how I've responded every week, no matter if it was a worse week or a good week. Just excited for tomorrow.”

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