‘Guys in the locker room are going the extra mile because there is no Roger and Rafa at the 2021 US Open,’ feels Frances Tiafoe
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Frances Tiafoe
The 2021 US Open has certainly lived up to its expectations. After a crowd-less affair in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the final Slam of the year finally got its sheen back this year.
While some top seeds on the men’s side have been stunned in the earlier rounds, it has been pleasing to see the rise of the next generation players. Although American Jenson Brooksby lost in the fourth round to World No.1 Novak Djokovic, he certainly gave a good impression of his talent.
Likewise, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz too has been a revelation this year in New York. The 18-year-old stunned the World No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round and has now booked his place in the quarterfinals of the US Open.
Speaking to the media in New York, American Frances Tiafoe opined that the absence of tennis legend Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer has motivated the entire locker room to fight for the trophy.
“Without Roger and Rafa, the guys are hungry and say to themselves: ‘I have to give my all on this fucking Open.’ So I think that certainly has a role to play in that. The level of tennis is high. Anyone Can Beat Anyone. And if you don’t play good tennis, you can lose to anyone. I really think the guys are going the extra mile because there is no Roger and Rafa. I really believe it. Without them, I see guys drooling over their lips. It’s funny to watch, I’m in the locker room and I’m laughing seeing that,” noted the American
“ You have Seppi at 37 doing 15–13 in the fifth. Crazy. His 19th US Open, he puts his heart into play. It would probably not if he played against Rafa in the second round,” the World No.50 Tiafoe added.
Tiafoe stunned Rublev
Interestingly, it was Tiafoe who took out Russia’s Andrey Rublev in the second round. Later, he lost in the round of 16 to Felix Auger-Aliassime.
With or without, Roger and Rafa, the Serbian superstar Djokovic was and remains the overwhelming favourite to win his 21st Slam.
Also read: ‘Novak Djokovic will win more than 23 Slams, just embrace him’: Mardy Fish
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Vivek Krishnan
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