American tennis legends Chris Evert and James Blake have encouraged Frances Tiafoe to keep his head up following his US Open semifinal exit. On Friday, third-seeded Alcaraz defeated Tiafoe 6-7 (6) 6-3 6-1 6-7 (5) 6-3. After falling just short of reaching the US Open, Tiafoe said he felt like “I let you guys down.”
“You made us PROUD, Frances Tiafoe, and you WILL win the US Open one day,” Evert wrote on Twitter.
You made us PROUD, @FTiafoe and you WILL win the @usopen one day…👏👏👏👍👍👍 — Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) September 10, 2022
Blake added: “Big Foe, you didn’t let anyone down.
In fact, just the opposite. You lifted so many with your play and your heart. Many more chances,” Blake wrote on Twitter.
Big Foe @FTiafoe you didn’t let anyone down. In fact, just the opposite. You lifted so many with your play and your heart.
Many more chances. — James Blake (@JRBlake) September 10, 2022
Evert, Blake provide words of encouragement to Tiafoe
Tiafoe maybe didn’t go all the way at the US Open, but his US Open was definitely a great one.
En route to reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal, Tiafoe stunned record 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal. Now, 24-year-old Tiafoe feels he has proved that he can contend for Grand Slam titles. “I mean, I just proved that honestly,” Tiafoe said of his run at the US Open.
“I mean, I can play with the best obviously, and I’m capable of winning Grand Slams. I think everyone knew when I play my best what I could do. But you know how close I can actually be to be one of those guys and to do this consistently.
Obviously through my career I’ve been pretty sporadic of playing well, veering off for a while. I’ve always backed myself against the best players in the world. I’m doing it on a consistent basis, starting to beat guys more readily.
Ready to take the next step.” Tiafoe, the 26st-ranked player in the world, will enter the top-20 for the first time in his career this Monday. It remains to be seen if Tiafoe can continue his strong form in the rest of the season.
