Credit: Twitter
Frances Tiafoe, the rising star of American tennis, had a special guest in his corner during his first-round match at the Citi Open in Washington, DC: NBA legend Kevin Durant. The Phoenix Suns forward showed his support for the local hero as he battled past Aslan Karatsev in a tight two-setter.
Tiafoe, who is currently ranked No. 10 in the world, prevailed 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) over the Russian, whom he also defeated in the second round of the French Open earlier in the year. The 25-year-old American displayed his trademark energy and passion, firing up the crowd and himself with his fist pumps and roars. After the match, he shared a warm hug with Durant, who joined him for an on-court interview.
Also read: FIBA World Cup 2023 Power Rankings: France get top spot ahead of USA and Spain
Durant praised Tiafoe for his performance and his impact on the community. “He’s just bringing, first of all, that energy from this area. He’s representing the right, so we’re all proud of him,” Durant said. The two-time NBA champion also joked about his own tennis skills, saying they were “non-existent”.
Tiafoe later revealed that he had invited Durant to watch him play after meeting him at the hotel where they were both staying. “It was dope. We are both staying at the Four Seasons,” he said, “I saw KD, and I’m, like, Bro, I’m going to play Tuesday, Wednesday. I don’t know how long you’re staying, but it would be dope if you can come – He’s, like, 100 percent we’re going to make it happen.”
Watch the video here:
Tiafoe, who grew up in nearby Maryland and learned to play tennis at a local club where his father worked as a janitor, also expressed his gratitude that legends like Durant come and see him play. Tiafoe has long spoken about his roots as a kid in the area, and he came full circle as he was the center of attention, celebrated by a global icon in Durant.
