Frances Tiafoe has long maintained that outside of winning a Grand Slam, securing a title at his hometown tournament would be the most meaningful of his career.

“I love this area wholeheartedly,” Tiafoe said last weekend. “It's shaped me into the person I am today. To be able to see what this tournament has become, to now be the face of the event, it's incredible

“I have no more motivation than to want to win [and] see my name on the stadium,” where past champions are forever immortalized on the awning around the lower bowl.

Tiafoe has come close, reaching the quarterfinals in 2022 and 2023 and the semifinals in 2024 before losing to the eventual champion all three years.

Now the quest for an elusive DC title begins anew with Tiafoe returning to Stadium Court tonight for his opening match against Aleksander Kovacevic.

The marquee matchup will be the backend of a Primetime doubleheader on Stadium and will follow a blockbuster women’s second rounder as No. 2 seed and UVA star Emma Navarro makes her MCDCO debut against former World No. 3 and 2023 DC finalist Marria Sakkari.

Tiafoe has won his two prior meetings against Kovacevic, including a three-set triumph in the Round-of-16 in DC in 2024.

As he now makes his ninth career appearance at his hometown tournament, Tiafoe says he has learned how to ‘lock in’ once his matches begin and limit any potential distractions. He also says he can still appreciate the environment around him.

“When I walk on the grounds, people are ultra excited,” But here, everywhere I go, it's like a long homecoming. I know everyone from security and staff for so long, and everyone's so excited to see me. A lot of "I'm proud of you" and "Keep going," and kids and stuff. A lot of love like that.”