Tiafoe Thrilled to Face another Idol in Federer

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Tiafoe Thrilled to Face another Idol in Federer

Frances Tiafoe is pumped to face Roger Federer today in MIami, and he wasn't shy about admitting that fact after his first-round win. Check out these classic comments:

Q. Yeah, I wanted you to expand a little bit on that. Playing Roger Federer, 19 years old. Can you just talk about what goes through your mind, how you prepare for a match like that? When you see him across the court what do you think it's going to be like? I'm sure it's going to be on center court. It's going to be a packed house, I'm sure.

FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, it's Roger Federer. This guy has about a million Grand Slams and done everything. I mean, I can't tell you how excited I am to play. Seeing the draw was partly probably why being up a set and 4-1 I started rushing and thinking, Oh, my God, I'm going to play Roger, I'm going to play Roger.

Then I started thinking, Okay, if I don't get it done I won't. Yeah, I mean, he's my idol, everyone's idol. People still on tour in the locker room stare at him. He's an absolute legend.

We hope he never retires because he's such a good ambassador for the sport.

Q. You just mentioned that Roger is one of your idols. Was he one of the people that you wanted to emulate, or do you have any other?

FRANCES TIAFOE: He's too smooth to emulate. Yeah, you can't emulate a guy like him. He makes it look way too easy.

My actually biggest idol was De Potro, so playing him in Acapulco was amazing for me. Partly I liked him because he beat Federer at the US Open final. You know, just someone different.

So easy to like him and Rafa and all those top guys. Yeah, I mean, Roger, he's everyone's idol, and I really can't wait to play him.

I wish I almost didn't have to wait. I almost want to play right now.

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