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‘Need People Who are Not Really Good, But are Entertaining’: Andy Roddick on Frances Tiafoe’s US Open 2022 Run

Published 09/08/2022, 3:39 PM EDT

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Tennis legend Andy Roddick is the last American to win a singles Major Championship and also the last to hoist the US Open trophy. To bring back what he did, Tiafoe is the lone remaining American among a bunch of talented players who can eventually put a stop to the US drought. Recently, the Former World No. 1 came in support of Frances and talked about the pressure that a person faces while playing a grand slam.

Tiafoe’s triumph over Nadal was hailed as the biggest victory for the home base on the men’s side in New York since James Blake overcame the Spaniard back in 2005. Since then, American tennis fans have been anxious for their next male singles grand slam champion.

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Andy Roddick supports Frances Tiafoe

After acknowledging that he wants to win the US Open championship for himself rather than his nation, Frances is caught in controversy once more. Tiafoe wants to concentrate on improving his game rather than being pulled into the story of perhaps ending America’s two-decade men’s single drought at the US Open.

USA Today via Reuters

The player believes he is more driven to succeed for himself and is not really interested in ending the streak. Roddick supported Tiafoe, saying, “If I’m him and I just had the biggest win of my career, the last thing I want to talk about is someone else, I get it. I don’t want to be the answer to a trivia question for much longer, either.” Roddick was aware that Tiafoe might not feel good about being dragged into this angle.  

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 Read more – BRAVO! Frances Tiafoe Ends United States’ 50-Year-Old Drought After Reaching US Open 2022 Semifinals

The former World No. 1 further added he likes Frances and is aware that Tiafoe might not feel good about being dragged into the story. He added, “I like Frances a lot, I love his game, I think he’s fantastic, I like the way he operates, I like his energy. And frankly, in this country, we need people that are not only really good but are entertaining; and he has that.”

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Frances Tiafoe’s iconic victory over Rafael Nadal

The biggest victory of Frances Tiafoe’s career came when the 22nd-ranked American defeated Rafael Nadal to advance to the US Open quarterfinals. In their previous two meetings, Rafa had never dropped a set. But Nadal’s hopes of capturing a third Grand Slam championship in 2022 were dashed when Frances Tiafoe of America defeated him in four sets at the US Open. Since losing to Novak Djokovic in the French Open semifinals last year, Nadal had not suffered a slam defeat until this one.

Watch this story – Serena Williams vs Rafael Nadal – Net Worth comparison 

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Since 2005, after James Blake, Tiafoe’s victory over Rafa marked the best victory for an American man at the US Open. After making it all the way to the final eight at the Australian Open in 2019, Tiafoe advances to just his second Grand Slam quarterfinal of his career. 

Will Frances make it to the US Open finals? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Pratishtha Prakash

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Pratishtha Prakash is a Tennis Writer at EssentiallySports. She has completed her Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media and Journalism from MIT ADT University, Pune. Being a sports enthusiast, she has a keen interest in tennis, cricket and esports.
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Edited by:

Melroy Fernandes