Frances Tiafoe Explains How Tennis is More Than Just Game After Interaction with a Kid at US Open

Frances Tiafoe is aiming to end the American men's Grand Slam drought at the US Open, where he is a two-time semifinalist.

Frances Tiafoe Explains How Tennis is More Than Just Game After Interaction with a Kid at US Open

Frances Tiafoe (Image via X/US Open Tennis)

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Frances Tiafoe‘s hunt for his first Grand Slam title continues at the US Open. He survived a scare in the second round as compatriot Martin Damm Jr. took the third set off him, but Tiafoe eventually ended the match in his favor.

It’s only at the home Grand Slam that Tiafoe played a Grand Slam semifinal (2022 and 2024). At the press conference after his second-round win, he talked about his encounter with a kid and explained why he thinks tennis is more than just a sport.

I had a little kid’s parents come up to me like, ‘Yo, you saved my kid’s life. ’ Couldn’t get through to him. And I, you know, I signed a ball and talked to the kid, and I was like, ‘Listen to your parents, this and other. Laughing with the kid. And he, you know, turned a whole new leaf. It’s a totally different thing… They see themselves in me. We’re not just playing tennis. We’re inspiring people. Nipsey Hussle says it best. The highest human act is to inspire.

The 17th seed will next be locking horns with Jan-Lennard Struff. The German ace overcame 11th seed Holger Rune in a five-set battle in the second round.

It was Struff whom Tiafoe defeated in the 2023 Stuttgart Open final, but since then, he has not yet won a title. Following that victory, Tiafoe also featured in three finals, the last of which was in this year’s U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships, losing the match to compatriot Jenson Brooksby.

Emma Raducanu on Frances Tiafoe’s reaction to Carlos Alcaraz’s new haircut

Carlos Alcaraz‘s buzzcut has become a talking point of the town. On the day of his opening round match, Alcaraz’s brother, Alvaro Alcaraz, gave him a haircut, but things went wrong, and the only way was to completely shave his head.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

Frances Tiafoe, who stared for a long time at Alcaraz’s head, found the haircut “horrible” and questioned those who said the haircut looked good on the Spaniard. Later, Alcaraz was told about Tiafoe’s comments, and he said he was convinced the American ace was lying.

Emma Raducanu has now given her verdict on the same. After knocking out Janice Tjen in the second round of the US Open, Raducanu, at the press conference, joked that Tiafoe was harsh on Alcaraz.

No, I think Francis was harsh on him (laughs). I think you know the fact that he does it with confidence, and he owns it. I think he pulls it off. So, yeah, say what you want. Yeah, I’d say supportive. I’d say supportive.

Raducanu and Alcaraz paired up for the revamped US Open mixed doubles, adding fuel to the dating rumors. But the pair lost in the first round to Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper.

Raducanu has a tough challenge ahead of her in the form of Elena Rybakina, who defeated Tereza Valentova in the previous round. The 2021 US Open champion has met the 2022 Wimbledon champion just once- in the first round of the 2022 Sydney International, which Rybakina won in straight sets.

Raducanu also paired up with Rybakina for the doubles event in this year’s Citi Open, but they gave a walkover in the semifinals to eventual winners Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai.

Alcaraz, on the other hand, is bidding to win his seventh title of the season as well as his second one at Flushing Meadows. He overcame Reilly Opelka in the opening round before he breezed past Mattia Bellucci in the following round. The five-time Grand Slam champion is scheduled to face Luciano Darderi next.

Alcaraz could square off against Tiafoe if they both reach the semifinals. But before that, Tiafoe could run into Novak Djokovic in the fourth round. The 22-year-old has been playing a final since the Monte Carlo Masters, with his last title being the Cincinnati Masters.

Also read: Jannik Sinner Looks Back on ‘The’ Match that Revolutionized his Rivalry With Carlos Alcaraz