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Tennis fans have known that Frances Tiafoe, of Hyattsville, Maryland, was on the cusp of blowing up in the sport, and he appears to have broken through Monday with his upset win over Rafael Nadal at the U.S. Open. But at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, it wasn鈥檛 as surprising — 鈥渋t was a matter of ‘when.’鈥�
That鈥檚 what Robin Montgomery, 18, from Northwest D.C., said as she took the court for training Tuesday morning. Her own pro career is just getting started, and she said Tiafoe is like an older brother to her.
鈥淪eeing him accomplish something that big is obviously inspiring for me and the younger kids who grew up out of here — and it鈥檚 just a huge accomplishment, and we鈥檙e so proud of him,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ince I鈥檝e been coming here, he鈥檚 someone who I鈥檝e looked up to, and we鈥檝e gotten closer over the years.”
Montgomery said most tennis players are “honestly, kind of like me — very serious on the court, no joking around.” But Tiafoe is “funny and very generous,鈥� she said, adding, “I like how he involves the crowd, puts jokes on the court. I think it鈥檚 good for the sport.”
鈥淥ff the court he鈥檚 just a very kind person,鈥� she added. 鈥淗e just likes to have fun, make sure everyone鈥檚 smiling. Everyone sees him smiling. Good energy.鈥�
鈥淚 knew he had it in him,鈥� she said.
Montgomery won the singles and doubles competitions at the Girls U.S. Open last year, and said Tiafoe will occasionally offer some advice as she transitions into playing professional events on a fulltime basis. It was tennis that bonded them initially, but off the court they tend to talk about everything but tennis.
鈥淚f anything, we just goof around with each other and we don鈥檛 get too serious that often,鈥� she said. 鈥淭ennis is a draining sport. … Whenever I hang out with him, we try to make sure that we just have fun and we鈥檙e just relaxed.鈥�
It鈥檚 different when he talks with his former coach, Oliver Akli, who said he worked with Tiafoe in College Park just before the tournament started and spoke with him Sunday night.
鈥淚 told him, ‘Look, Nadal is an unbelievable player. But look at his age, look at your age. You have to be more physical with him,鈥欌�� recounted Akli.
Now that he’s beaten the legend, Akli said, 鈥淭he one thing I want him to do is, I want him to keep going — not to relax and 鈥業 just beat Nadal; I have to relax.鈥� No, no, no. You want to always keep the momentum going. Let everybody know 鈥業鈥檓 ready this year.鈥欌��
He said Tiafoe, one of the more charismatic and best-liked players in tennis, is playing with more maturity on the court, after maturing off of it.
鈥淵ou can tell right now he believes in his game — he knows his game; he knows what he鈥檚 supposed to be doing at the moment,鈥� said Akli. 鈥淎t that high level, as soon as you lose your focus a little bit, you鈥檙e out. He has huge confidence right now. He鈥檚 ready for anyone.鈥�
His success is also inspiring the teenagers who are training in the hopes of following Tiafoe to professional careers. Stefan Regalia and Cyrus Mahjoob are both DMV natives who train at the JTCC and have practiced with Tiafoe.
鈥淗e鈥檚 always been a pretty unreal player,鈥� said Mahjoob. 鈥淚 knew he was a sick player. I鈥檝e seen him put in the work recently. He鈥檚 been putting in the effort.鈥�
Mahjoob said he spent about two hours hitting back and forth with Tiafoe recently, 鈥渁nd my forearm was dying by the end of it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of fun. He does a great job bringing the energy, making sure everyone on court is putting everything they have into it.鈥�
Regalia said playing with Tiafoe is 鈥渋nsanely hard.鈥� He lauded the power and the spin Tiafoe is able to put on the balls even when they鈥檙e hitting casually.
鈥淚t鈥檚 never easy hitting with him, but it鈥檚 always a great time,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always very good for me and I hope it鈥檚 good for him.鈥�
Regalia said Monday’s match yesterday was all anyone in the classroom setting was talking about.
鈥淚 watched the whole match. It was amazing,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great for the center and it鈥檚 great for him. … I hope it really puts us more on the map.鈥�
Everyone agreed Tiafoe has what it takes to win his first Grand Slam trophy.
鈥淭he way he鈥檚 playing right now, he has the level,鈥� said Regalia.
鈥淚 think he could go all the way, ability-wise,鈥� said Mahjoob. 鈥淚f he just locks in, he could go all the way.鈥�
Montgomery agreed, adding, 鈥淥bviously it鈥檚 one match at a time. That鈥檚 the main thing, if I were to tell him something.鈥�
