Frances Tiafoe delivered an unforgettable performance at the US Open, first winning a dramatic five-set showdown against fellow American Ben Shelton in the third round, and then defeating Novak Djokovic’s vanquisher, Alexei Popyrin, in the fourth round. In his quarterfinal match, Tiafoe faced off against Grigor Dimitrov and showcased his trademark resilience. Despite Dimitrov forcing a tight second set tiebreak, the Bulgarian was unable to keep up the pace and eventually retired in the fourth set when Tiafoe was leading 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-1.
The energy in Arthur Ashe Stadium was electric, and among the 23,000 fans in attendance was none other than tennis legend Roger Federer. But surprisingly, it wasn’t Federer’s presence that stood out the most to Tiafoe. When asked about Federer watching from the stands, Tiafoe acknowledged the thrill but quickly shifted his attention to another star in the crowd—actor and comedian Kevin Hart.
“That was pretty sick,” Tiafoe said about Federer being in the audience. “But honestly, I was more pumped about Kevin Hart than Roger! At this point, seeing Roger is almost normal after playing in the Laver Cup the past couple of years. But Kevin, that’s a different story.”
RELATED: Tennis Player Issues Apology for Unacceptable Behavior Toward Ball Girl
Tiafoe went on to describe Federer’s effortless style, saying, “The guy is unbelievable. I mean, he looks the same in a suit as he did on the court—no sweat, everything perfectly in place. Hair on point, shirt ironed. It’s crazy. Wherever he goes, people just love him. He’s such a legend. But honestly, seeing Kevin Hart was sick. That made my day.”
Hart quickly went viral during the match after cameras caught him intensely watching the action unfold. The comedian, known for his energetic personality and passion for sports, was fully engaged in the tennis drama, and fans online couldn’t get enough of his reactions.
Tiafoe, never one to shy away from the moment, fed off the star-studded crowd and delivered a performance worthy of the occasion. Now, he’s turning his focus to his upcoming semi-final match against fellow American Taylor Fritz.
Tiafoe will be looking to continue his strong run and put on another show for the packed Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday.
As he prepares for his next challenge, Tiafoe reflected on how far he and his fellow American players have come. Currently ranked No. 16 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Tiafoe is part of a generation of U.S. players who have been pushing each other to new heights. Alongside Fritz and World No. 14 Tommy Paul, Tiafoe has long dreamed of competing for major titles.
“We’ve all talked about it since we were teenagers,” Tiafoe said. “Going deep in slams, competing for the biggest trophies. It’s incredible that we’re all here, living that dream now. Hopefully, I can keep this momentum going and do something special.”
With a semi-final clash on the horizon and a celebrity-packed audience behind him, Tiafoe is poised to make an even bigger splash at this year’s US Open. Whether it’s for Federer, Kevin Hart, or the thousands of fans in attendance, Tiafoe is ready to keep the show going.
