By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday, September 26, 2022

Frances Tiafoe teamed with Jack Sock on Friday night in London, and the pair handed Roger Federer a loss in his final match as they saved a match point to win, 6-4, 6-7(2), 11-9 over Federer and Nadal.



Along the way Tiafoe tweaked a few fans when he aimed a few ground strokes right at the chest of Federer and Nadal. One nicked Federer in the arm, the other forced Nadal to duck as the ball went for a winner.

Fans, predictably, took to social media to give Tiafoe flack for not taking it easy on the legends. They called him out for not showing respect, but can you really blame the American for wanting to keep his opponents honest at the net? Every tennis player has employed the tactic at some point in their career, and it is regarded by purists as the right play much of the time. There’s a time and a place for it, most certainly.

On Sunday Tiafoe was asked if he had apologized to Federer for “beating him” on Friday, and Tiafoe was quick to reply: no way.

Q. Frances, did you apologize to Roger after beating him on Friday night?

“Absolutely not. I want to see him lit, but I'm not going to apologize to him,” he said. “He's got a lot to apologize after the last 24 years after beating everybody on the tour.

“No, I won't apologize, but I will say thank you for having me in this amazing event, you know, what he's done for the game, also say thank you for what he did for the game. He's a class act. Happy to know him, happy to call him friend, happy to call him a colleague, and best wishes in his second act. But I will not apologize.”

For the record, Federer and Nadal did not react at all to the shots hit by Tiafoe during the match, nor did they or any of their teammates say anything about it.