He's a goofball...and that's why we like each other: Tiafoe recalls endearing friendship with US Open foe Fritz

Wednesday, 04 September 2024 at 18:30

Behind their semi-final clash at the 2024 US Open is a close friendship between two different personalities as Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz. While this may cease when they're on the court, it will remain afterwards.

Tiafoe spoke with great love for his close friend in a friendship that in his mind shouldn't work as well as it does as he called him a goofball and a different cat compared to his out there persona.

But while that's the case, he has lauded the way he has invented himself especially physically to become the man he is today as they share a semi-final together.

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"When I first met him (Fritz), Taylor was an odd cat, a different cat. I definitely wasn't thinking he was going to do what he's done. He's changed his body, like, unbelievable. He's really talented. He was like a part-time player. He played a couple of times a week and of course, he'll tell you, he went to a normal high school. He was a normal kid. Then he started putting more time into it," Tiafoe said in his press conference.

"He (Fritz) is like a video gamer, never leaves the room. He's a goofball. And I'm like, loud, obnoxious at times, but he's also very funny. He's got that dry humor, smartass, but at the same time, that's why we like each other, because we're so different. That's why we get along so well. And then, as competitors, we're very alike. Hate to lose. And we battle hard," Tiafoe added .

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