Game, Set, Recharge: Frances Tiafoe talks hoop dreams and sleep hacks

After a rough start to the year, Frances Tiafoe is turning things around on red clay.

The world No. 16 didn’t win back-to-back matches during the Australian and North American hard-court swing, and when we caught up with him in Miami, Tiafoe was disappointed with his results but determined to look on the bright side:

“I’m just trying to stay positive, man, gain momentum and find the small wins to create bigger wins,” the 27-year-old said. “That’s kind of where I’m at now.”

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A week later he did just that, and powered into the final in Houston for the third time. Now Tiafoe is in Rome, where he’s aiming to continue his positive run into May: After making his career debut in Monte Carlo, he reached the round of 16 in Madrid for the first time.

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But for this diehard basketball fan, May doesn’t just mean the European clay-court season—it’s NBA Playoffs time.

His beloved Washington Wizards didn’t make it this time, but the Maryland native hasn’t let that—or the several hours of time difference—stop him from keeping up with the games.

“It’s funny, I go to Europe every year and that’s usually around when NBA Playoffs is on,” Tiafoe told me with a grin.

“So for me, I struggle with jet lag to get on the proper time, but at the same time it’s like… I can wake up at 3 a.m. and I don’t mind it, because I can just put the game on," he adds.

”In my mind I’m just like, Oh well, I can watch hoops for five hours! But then I can’t see at two o’clock.”

He may have to start catching the replays this week. Seeded 15th in Rome, Tiafoe awaits the winner of Roberto Carballes Baena and qualifier Sebastian Ofner in the second round on Friday after a bye.

Stay tuned on Baseline for more of Game, Set, Recharge, which features your favorite ATP and WTA pros sharing their favorite travel tips, wellness secrets and more.

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I’m just trying to stay positive, man, gain momentum and find the small wins to create bigger wins. That’s kind of where I’m at now.

Frances Tiafoe’s 3 jet lag tips

1. "Don’t sleep during the day."

2. "Take a lot of walks; stay outside or in general anywhere BUT near a bed."

3. "And, for a couple days, just tell yourself you’re not tired, even though you’re dying."