Frances Tiafoe says his “clown” feedback have been taken means out of context and blown out of proportion as he insists it was stated extra in a method to describe how he felt about his type slightly than insult or disrespect his colleagues.
At this previous Wimbledon, former world No. 10 Tiafoe began his run by staging a five-set 6-7 (5) 2-6 6-1 6-3 6-3 win over Forty fifth-ranked Matteo Arnaldi. For the 26-year-old American, it was yet one more powerful day on the workplace in 2024 however at the very least this time he was capable of finish on the successful aspect.
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And Tiafoe – who was even on a four-match shedding streak through the spring – described his 2024 season as “brutal highs and lows” after the Arnaldi win and likewise stated that he has been “shedding to clowns” this yr. To nobody’s shock, the American’s feedback weren’t welcomed by some as they felt that it was straight disrespectful to speak about sure ATP gamers that means.
After that assertion, Tiafoe went on to beat Borna Coric within the Wimbledon second spherical earlier than testing eventual Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz – the Spaniard wanted 5 units to beat the American of their third-round assembly.
Now at the beginning of this week’s ATP 500 match in Washington, Tiafoe was requested about his comment that drew controversy.
“100%. I imply, I undoubtedly like a bunch of group sports activities. Folks had been saying means worse issues. I’ve seen (NBA famous person) Luka Doncic within the Playoffs cursing guys out. I imply, saying means worse issues and it isn’t that severe,” Tiafoe stated.
Tiafoe: Stan Wawrinka and Matteo Berrettini messaged me
Tiafoe, who considers himself “a really chill individual,” says fellow gamers did not take his clown feedback as one thing disrespectful. As a substitute, that they had a great snigger after listening to about it.
“Yeah, I feel it acquired taken the unsuitable means. On the similar time, everybody on tour was laughing with me as a result of it was me. I feel it was all good enjoyable ultimately. I feel individuals are going to carry their hat on that for some time,” Tiafoe stated.
And in accordance with Tiafoe, three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka and 2021 Wimbledon finalist Berrettini had been among the many gamers who joked about his remarks.
“I imply, everybody introduced it as much as me. Wawrinka despatched it to me at 7 AM the subsequent morning once I wakened. Berrettini got here up the subsequent day, ‘Thank God I did not play you final yr.’ A bunch of individuals had been coming as much as me in that sense. It was humorous, man. It was humorous,” Tiafoe revealed.
What Tiafoe precisely stated at Wimbledon?
After making his first Grand Slam semifinal on the 2022 US Open and likewise breaking into the top-10 for the primary time final yr, Tiafoe made his final actually huge outcome on the 2023 US Open – when he was a quarterfinalist.
Since then, Tiafoe has been struggling along with his consistency – and aside from a runner-up end at an ATP 250 match in Houston and likewise being a semifinalist in Delray Seashore – the American hasn’t had a lot success.
And after overcoming Arnaldi in a five-setter to enhance to 13-13 on the yr on the time, Tiafoe made the remark that has since gone viral.
“It’s brutal. Highs and lows. Take into consideration the place I’m at. Actually this week final yr I used to be 10 on the earth and now I’m barely seeded right here (at Wimbledon). Dropping to clowns, I hate to say it however I’m simply gonna be trustworthy,” Tiafoe stated.
“I took the sport without any consideration and acquired slightly too comfy. You cease having enjoyable with it and you end up in a bizarre place. You then form of overlook what you had been doing to win? You begin doubting your self and all these sorts of issues.
“Nevertheless it’s the sport. It’s like something, nothing is peaches and cream on a regular basis. It’s about how briskly you may form of get out of that. And there’s all the time mild on the finish of the tunnel, whether or not you both attempt to discover it with small wins or proceed to really feel sorry for your self and proceed to play sufferer, that’s the place it simply will get darker and darker and darker.”
After a third-round exit at Wimbledon, Tiafoe went to Atlanta to start out his summer time on onerous courts. There, Tiafoe had a first-round bye earlier than beating Aslan Karatsev within the round-of-16. However after a optimistic begin, Tiafoe suffered a disappointing quarterfinal loss to Yoshihito Nishioka.
This week, Tiafoe is competing in Washington, the place he’s set to face world No. 124 Daniel Elahi Galan in his opener.
