Frances Tiafoe can't help but feel humbled as he appears as the biggest star in the ongoing 2023 Washington Open at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center.
He is competing in two events in the ATP Tour 500 series, and he feels elated by the support he is getting from his countrymen. He especially mentioned the presence of some NBA players.
The 25-year-old recalled how tough the journey is to become a tennis pro, and now, he plays against the game's best.
"Now I'm playing this tournament," he said.
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"People are here to see me. I'm packing it out. Doubles was nuts yesterday. Packed it out today. Guys like KD and [Kentavious] Caldwell-Pope and Gaff [Daniel Gafford] want to come see me play."
"I'm humble they want to take the time out and come and watch me play. Yeah, it's so impactful, and it's one of those things you want to keep these moments going."
KD gives props to Tiafoe
Kevin Durant, born in Washington and raised in Maryland, where Tiafoe is from, expressed admiration and pride for the US representative after beating Russia's Aslan Karatsev in the second round.
"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."
"He's just bringing that energy from this area... we're all proud of him."
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 2, 2023
NBA legend @KDTrey5 with some love for @FTiafoe at @mubadalacitidc 🤩 pic.twitter.com/bjtwZIvaVc
Tiafoe's trajectory will make anyone proud. He came to the Washington Open as a second seed and became the world no. 10 last June.
He got close to a Grand Slam title in 2022 after reaching the semifinals and losing to Carlos Alcaraz.
He currently has three career titles in the Men's Singles. Maybe the Washington crowd can push him to his fourth.
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