US Open 2022: Frances Tiafoe stunned by LeBron James after upset win
NEW YORK — Just an hour after Francis Tiafoe defeated 22-time Major champion Rafael Nadal 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in Arthur Ashe on Monday. The stadium to reach his first US Open quarter-final, his night somehow got even better.
Checking his phone after returning to the locker room, he saw a tweet from LeBron James that he had just made.
Tiafoe said he hesitated before retweeting it, at least wanting to see that the tweet wasn’t a big deal.
Have a moment Frances Tiafoe!#USOpen pic.twitter.com/egoIVDoRWh
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2022
“I was like, ‘Do I retweet it as soon as I send it?’ I was like, ‘You know what, I’ll cool down and act like I didn’t see it and then retweet it three hours later,'” Tiafoe explained.
Tiafoe has previously channeled James at some post-match events and called him “my man” on Monday. He also said that James’ agent Rich Paul had sent him a text congratulating him after the match.
.@RealDealBeal23 is loving every minute of this match.@FTiafoe | @WashWizards | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/bp32cWxsge
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2022
Bradley Bell of the Washington Wizards — Tiafoe’s favorite team — sat in his player box during the match.
Tiafoe said it was Bale’s first appearance in a tennis match, but it probably wasn’t his last.
“He wants to come again,” Tiafoe said. “It was great. It was a special day for me. “