Style Guide: Frances Tiafoe brings the 'pool party'—and his A-game—to Roland Garros

PARIS, France —”Big Foe” is making big strides on clay—and even bigger waves at Roland Garros—as a part of American tennis’ surprise surge into the second week.

Frances Tiafoe, the No. 15 seed, booked a spot in the fourth round of the clay-court major for the first time on Friday, defeating countryman Sebastian Korda 7-6 (6), 6-3, 6-4 to join No. 12 seed Tommy Paul and No. 13 Ben Shelton in a strong American contingent.

Read More: Americans in Paris: Shelton-Tiafoe-Paul trio chase history at Roland Garros

It marks the first time in 30 years that three American men have reached this stage in Paris. On Sunday, all three will look to break an even longer drought—seeking to become the first U.S. men’s quarterfinalist at Roland Garros since 2003.

But for 27-year-old Tiafoe, the weight of history isn’t something he’s carrying onto the court.

“I think it's super critical not to worry about what was and just worry about what is,” Tiafoe told press after his win over Korda.

“Currently we're at the French Open, and just trying to be elite. This is where it counts, so (the) guys just believe it.”

Tiafoe has yet to drop a set through three rounds in Paris—a stark contrast to his previous nine appearances, where he earned just four main draw wins combined. But it’s not just his performance turning heads—his courtside style is making a statement too.

The 27-year-old has embraced a full-on ‘pool party’ aesthetic with a head-to-toe royal blue look, one of the most distinctive kits of the tournament.

A global brand ambassador for Lululemon since the start of the year, Tiafoe has become known for his expressive on-court style, frequently featuring custom touches and nods to his “Big Foe” nickname. The collaboration allows him to bring both comfort and personality to the court.

“I got to give a lot of input into my look which feels very me and shows off my style,” he said after announcing the new partnership. “Working with a brand that’s newer in the tennis world is really cool because they care about both performance and style.”

At Roland Garros, Tiafoe has been sporting pieces from Lululemon’s men's tennis collection in their standout ‘pool party’ blue colorway. Against Korda, he rocked a breathable striped mesh t-shirt and 7” shorts, both with UV protection and sweat-wicking technology.

Tiafoe fully committed to the theme, completing the look with a matching headband, armband, socks and even his signature right arm sleeve—all in strikingly bright blue. Even his K-Swis Ultrashot 4 shoes were a part of the coordinated effort, featuring “Big Foe” stitched on the tongue.

The bold blue contrasts nicely with the orange terre-battue, as Tiafoe seeks to make his own mark and keep breaking new ground at Roland Garros.

“I think everyone has their personal goals, what they're trying to achieve. There’s no guarantees, man,” Tiafoe reflected.

“It has been more of a normality of us going deep in slams, but there's no guarantees in life. Can't take these moments for granted.

“Every time you're out here, you want to give it the best you can. There is no telling that we'll be back in the round of 16 of a major again.”

Next up, Tiafoe faces Germany’s Daniel Altmaier as he looks to reach his fifth Grand Slam quarterfinal—and his first ever on clay.

Read More: Can Tommy Paul break the curse for U.S. men at Roland Garros?