Frances Tiafoe is used to playing in front of thousands of tennis fans but on Tuesday at the Citi Open, one particular person watching caught his eye.
The second seed began his campaign in Washington with a hard-fought 7-6(5), 7-6(5), win over Aslan Karatsev which lasted more than two hours. Tiafoe produced a total of 28 winners against nine unforced errors and saved all four break points he faced. It is his 31st win of the season.
Cheering the American on from the sidelines was NBA player Kevin Durant who plays for the Phoenix Stars. He is a 13-time NBA All-Star who played a part in his country winning gold at three different Olympic Games between 2012-2021.
“It was dope,” Taifoe said to reporters when asked about Durant watching him play. “We are both staying at the Four Seasons. I seen 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.”
Following Tiafoe’s win over Aslan, the Basketball star hugged him before joining him during his on-court interview. Durant paid tribute to the impact Tiafoe is having on his local community. Over the past year, the world No.10 has reached the semi-finals of the US Open and made his debut in the world’s top 10 on the ATP Pepperstone rankings.
“He’s just bringing, first of all, that energy from this area,” Durant said. “He’s representing right, so we’re all proud of him.”
The situation Tiafoe finds himself in is one he dreamt about as a child. As a son of immigrants from Sierra Leon, he has faced plenty of obstacles in his bid to make it as a professional athlete. He used to play at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in Maryland where his father was the on-site custodian. Tiafoe has access to the facility as he lived in an office at the centre for five days a week with his father and brother.
“I was a kid who had an opportunity and dreamed massively big. Shouldn’t be doing any of these things, honestly,” he said. “Sneaking into this event, telling my parents I was going to be a pro at a super young age, against all odds, wearing hand-me-down clothes, holes in my shoes, cargo shorts. Now I’m playing in this tournament. People are here to see me. I’m packing it out.
“Guys like KD and [Kentavious} Caldwell-Pope and Gaff [Daniel Gafford] want to come see me play. I have just worked really hard over the years.”
Tiafoe will next play China’s Shang Juncheng in Washington.
