By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday September 13, 2022
Flushing Meadows, NY—Frances Tiafoe celebrated his career-best run at the US Open by hopping on the morning talk show Good Morning America on Monday.
The 24-year-old, who became the first American man to reach the semifinals at the US Open since 2006, and the first black man to achieve the feat since Arthur Ashe in 1972, spoke about the experience of playing a starring role in one of the most memorable US Opens in history.
More: Alcaraz Wins US Open, Rises to No. 1
He cited the appearance of former First Lady Michelle Obama at his semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz as one of his most “wow” moments in New York this year.
“That was pretty impactful for me,” said Tiafoe.
Tiafoe also spoke of the experience last Friday, after falling to Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set semifinal.
“Seeing her there was crazy,” he said. “Obviously there was a lot of who's whos in there tonight. Obviously we all know what she means. Crazy.”
Tiafoe, who won the ATP’s Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in 2020, says it was a moving experience to have his name mentioned in the same sentence as Ashe, an activist and pioneer who just so happened to be a three-time Grand Slam champion.
“It’s truly a blessing, obviously from where I came from all the work that my parents did over the years, and having them see that and be a part of that it's crazy,” Tiafoe said. “To be mentioned in the same sentence as Arthur Ashe in anything is unbelievable and, and something no one can ever take from me. So I'm gonna remember that forever.”
Photo credit:Getty