Frances Tiafoe, the American tennis star, needed no additional motivation before taking the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium for his US Open match against Alexei Popyrin on Sunday. However, an unexpected pep talk from none other than Serena Williams ignited a spark within him like never before.
Tiafoe delivered a convincing 6-4, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3 win over the Australian Popyrin, securing a quarter-final matchup against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov. This victory came after a surprise visit from the 23-time Grand Slam champion, Williams.
“Telling me she’s always following no matter what, telling me it’s so good to see now that I’m done, you’re the guy of colour playing and doing well,” Tiafoe said. “I’m, like, damn. That’s really, really cool that she sees me as that.”
Williams, who captivated Flushing Meadows on Saturday with her return to the tournament for the first time since her final match at Arthur Ashe two years ago, was again spotted in the stands on Sunday, enjoying the signature “Honey Deuce” cocktail and soaking in the action.
“It was really cool to have her want to talk to me before a match and really say she wants me to do this thing and that I’m capable of doing it,” said Tiafoe. “I don’t think it will hit me like that if anybody else said it to me.”
Williams, who had a heartwarming encounter with world number one Iga Swiatek the previous day, might find herself torn when Tiafoe and Dimitrov meet in the next stage. After all, she also counts Dimitrov as a long-time friend. Dimitrov revealed that Williams also gave him a pep talk on Saturday and was in the stands when he defeated Russian Andrey Rublev in a thrilling five-set battle to reach the last eight.
Tiafoe’s victory, fueled by Serena Williams’ inspiring words, showcases the power of encouragement and the impact of iconic figures on aspiring athletes. It remains to be seen who Williams will be cheering for in the next round, but her presence at the US Open adds a layer of intrigue and excitement to this year’s tournament.
