Frances Tiafoe recalls Serena Williams’ epic rant on Roger Federer that saw the American boast of her better Grand Slam titles tally

Tiafoe recalled a funny rant by Serena Williams during their mixed doubles match at the Hopman Cup 2019.

Frances Tiafoe recalls Serena Williams’ epic rant on Roger Federer that saw the American boast of her better Grand Slam titles tally

Roger Federer and Serena Williams (Credits: Outlook, Teen Vogue)

In the recent ‘Ultimate Tennis Showdown’ Talk Show, Frances Tiafoe, along with Christopher Eubanks and Ben Shelton, shared their experiences and thoughts about American legend Serena Williams‘ impact on tennis, particularly in the United States.

Tiafoe, who considers Serena a friend and mentor, recounted an amusing incident from the mixed doubles match the two played against Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic at the Hopman Cup 2019 in Perth. Tiafoe recalls the match, where Serena found herself being aced repeatedly by the Swiss maestro.

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“She gets aced by Roger twice. She’s like, ‘I don’t know how this guy is acing me.’ She goes, ‘Don’t worry, we’re not going to lose. Even if we do lose, I got 23 (Grand Slam titles), he got 20, so it’s all good.’ I’m just like, man, this is too much. This is how she is in general. It’s just pretty funny. That line always stood out to me. It was pretty funny,” he said.

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Also read: Matteo Berrettini’s threat to sue umpire sends shockwaves at Wimbledon

Tiafoe speaks on Serena’s retirement and absence from tour since 2022

Serena Williams at USO 2022
Serena Williams at USO 2022 (Credits: US Open)

He went on to speak about her retirement after the US Open 2022, and how much the tour misses Serena. “I just have so much respect for her, for what she did for the game of tennis. She’s one of the best athletes ever, accomplished so much. Coming from where she came from and doing what she did. She exceeded expectations. She’s just a true leader. She’s a winner, no matter what. So, I’m just happy to call her a friend, happy to call her a colleague,” he said.

His compatriots Ben Shelton and Christopher Eubanks were mesmerized by Serena’s competitive spirit on hearing about the incident.

As Serena bid farewell to her professional tennis career in 2022, Tiafoe, like many others, recognized the significance of her presence in the sport. Serena’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the greatest athletes of all time has inspired countless individuals, including Tiafoe, to pursue their own dreams.

Tiafoe himself is progressing in his career at a steady pace, having made his first top-10 appearance last month. He leads the charge of the Americans at this year’s Wimbledon. Backed by his Stuttgart Open title, fans expect him to have a deep run this tournament

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