Frances Tiafoe returns to Team World

US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe will represent Team World at the fifth edition of the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 23-25.

Tiafoe, who competed at the inaugural Laver Cup in Prague in 2017 and again at Chicago’s United Center in 2018, will be making his third Laver Cup appearance.  He replaces John Isner, who sustained a wrist injury at the US Open.

“I am thrilled to have Frances on the team,” said Captain John McEnroe. “He has raised his game to a whole new level and has shown that he can compete and win against the best players on Tour. Plus, he brings a positive energy that should help the entire team.”

Tiafoe stunned world No.3 Rafael Nadal in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows and eliminated ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets before losing to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in an epic five-set semifinal, marking the longest run by an American man at the US Open since 2006.

Tiafoe’s world ranking improved to a career-high No.19.

“I just proved I’m capable of winning Grand Slams,” the 24-year-old Tiafoe said after his US Open campaign, cheered on by former US First Lady Michelle Obama.

Tiafoe joins Felix Auger-Aliassime, Taylor Fritz, Diego Schwartzman, Alex de Minaur and Jack Sock on McEnroe’s six-man team.

I love Laver Cup competition,” said Tiafoe, who competed in the first match in Laver Cup history against Marin Cilic in Prague. “It’s an incredible event and I hope I can win points for Team World in London this time. I know what to expect and I think we have a great chance this year of taking the title from Team Europe.

Tiafoe, a former world No.2 junior, won his first ATP Tour title at Delray Beach in 2018 when he was 20, and the following year, on his 21^st birthday, he upset Grigor Dimitrov to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the 2019 Australian Open.

He has twice reached the final at Estoril (2018 and 2022), and in 2021 upset world No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas en route to the final at Vienna.

Team World is on a mission to win the Laver Cup from defending champions, Team Europe, captained by Bjorn Borg and in 2022 represented by Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray.