Tennis students at the Maryland facility where Frances Tiafoe learned the game sat on folding chairs before a big-screen TV on Court 2 at the Junior Tennis Champions Center, watching him beat Andrey Rublev in straight sets at their quarterfinal match at the U.S. Open.
At the College Park watch party Wednesday, a few dozen boys and girls and their parents cheered the 24-year-old pro’s every point and grimaced at his few missed points. When Tiafoe dispatched Rublev in the third set, some of the kids jumped out of their seats and pumped their fists in the air.
Watch party cheers Tiafoe going ahead of Rublev 5-3 in 3rd set @WTOP pic.twitter.com/IX4g2cxBim
— Dick Uliano (@DickUliano) September 7, 2022
“I’m really inspired by him because I train at the same place, and the fact that he could make it to the semis at the U.S. Open makes me feel like I can,” said Reiley Rhodes, 12, of Annapolis, who is ranked No. 1 for her age group in Maryland and 13th in the nation.
Rhodes and the other tennis students watched Tiafoe win the first set, then left the watch party for the indoor courts, where under the direction of coaches, they participated in rounds of rallying. The kids then watched Tiafoe cement his victory in the third set.
As quarter final match moved to the 2nd set tennis students at the Frances Tiafoe watch party at the JTCC in College Park moved from folding chairs in front of the big screen to the courts in bldg 2 for rallying practice before resuming the watch a bit later @wtop pic.twitter.com/1P6GsRBlgB
— Dick Uliano (@DickUliano) September 7, 2022
“I really admire Tiafoe for all he’s been doing … it’s really cool seeing him out there beating top 10 top 20 players … it’s really inspiring,” said Kai Wells, 14, of Clarksburg, ranked seventh for her age group in Maryland.
Tiafoe’s father, an immigrant from Sierra Leone, worked as a maintenance man at the tennis facility while Tiafoe learned the game.
“This is our dream come true; this is our dream because him and I we always talked about this. This is the moment. He just got a ticket, now run with it … I’m pretty sure, right now, his confidence is so high … so we’re going to see what happens on Friday. I can’t wait,” said Komi Oliver Akli, senior director of player development at the center.
Tennis students here at a watch party at the JTCC in College Park follow the action at the US open applauding Frances Tiafoe in his quarter final match. A screen is set up here where Tiafoe learned the game @wtop pic.twitter.com/ks2iZ0vUPZ
— Dick Uliano (@DickUliano) September 7, 2022
