NBA superstar LeBron James congratulated Frances Tiafoe after the American stunned record 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal at the US Open. On Monday, Tiafoe produced a big upset as he defeated Nadal 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3 to reach his first US Open quarterfinal.
Overall, 24-year-old Tiafoe has been through to his second Grand Slam quarterfinal. Tiafoe has a great level of admiration for Tiafoe and the Los Angeles Lakers superstar made sure to congratulate the 24-year-old on his big day.
“CONGRATS Young King!!! You earned it! @FTiafoe,” James tweeted.
CONGRATS Young King!!! You earned it! @FTiafoe 🙏🏾✊🏾🤎👑 https://t.co/QQ0Jn7Lotp — LeBron James (@KingJames) September 5, 2022
Tiafoe ioens up after beating Nadal
Tiafoe went for his shots against Nadal and it paid off.
Now, Tiafoe feels he is able to play his game and he is happy with where his game and life are at the moment. “When I first came on the scene I felt like a lot of people had a lot of expectations on me on how I would do,” Tiafoe said.
“I wasn’t ready for it mentally. I wasn’t mature enough for it. These past couple of years, when the tension hasn’t been on me I have been able to develop. I have a great team behind me. I am just putting my head down and I am happy with where I am in life in general.
I am able to do me and do it my way and enjoy the game I love”. In the US Opn quarterfinal, Tiafoe plays Andrey Rublev. On Monday, Rublev defeated Cameron Norrie in straight sets to progress into his third US Open quarterfinal.
Tiafoe and Rublev will be going head-to-head for the third time when they meet at the US Open. Tiafoe defeated Rublev at the US Open last year, while the Russian beat the American at the Indian Wells Masters earlier this year. It remains to be seen if Tiafoe can clinch another big win and make the US Open semifinal.
