‘Entertainer’ Frances Tiafoe scripts biggest career win against Stefanos Tsitsipas in Vienna
‘I want people to have fun just like I’m having fun,’ said the American after securing the biggest victory of his career at the Erste Bank Open
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The result is sometimes insignificant to Frances Tiafoe as long as he has given everything and entertained the crowd, but the American was nonetheless delighted to pick up the biggest win of his career against Stefanos Tsitsipas on Thursday.
Tiafoe, ranked 49th in the world and a qualifier at this week’s ATP 500 event in Vienna, came back from 0-3 down in the deciding set to stun world number three and top-seed Tsitsipas 3-6 6-3 6-4 and book a spot in the quarter-finals.
His biggest win before Thursday had also come against Tsitsipas when he dumped the Greek, then ranked fourth, out of Wimbledon in the first round in June.
“You’ve got fans going nuts early in the match. I want to play. I want to be out there, I want to give it my all. You’ve got little kids screaming ‘Big Foe’ and that’s what it’s about,” the 23-year-old said.
“It’s almost irrelevant who you’re playing. Obviously I want to beat Stefanos and these guys, it’s always good to have on the resume. It’s been great.”
Tiafoe, who reached a career-best ranking of 29th in early 2019, will next meet Argentine Diego Schwartzman.
Born to parents who emigrated from Sierra Leone in 1996, Tiafoe is a crowd favourite wherever he plays because of his shirt-ripping, fist-pumping routines and his LeBron James-inspired celebrations after the match.
“I just love playing in a packed house. I feel at home. I feel like that’s what it’s about,” Tiafoe added. “The result is almost irrelevant sometimes.
“You have kids coming out, parents bring these kids out, pay their hard-earned money to come watch me play. I want people to have fun just like I’m having fun ... I feel it’s my duty to ‘A’, bring it, give my all, but also to make sure everyone has fun.
“That kid at the top of the stadium, I want them going home remembering (they) watched Frances Tiafoe play and (they) had a great time.”
Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments