Frances Tiafoe Shows Love for Knicks Stars at US Open

NEW YORK — Frances Tiafoe is a huge NBA fan and enjoys training in various player uniforms.

In 2022, during his run to the semifinals of the US Open, Tiafoe wore a jersey of Joel Embiid of the 76ers before defeating 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in the fourth round.

A year ago at the Open, the Maryland native practiced in an Immanuel Quickley Knicks jersey. Tiafoe had been at a Knicks game the previous December and chatted with Quickley, who has since been traded to the Toronto Raptors.

And on Wednesday, the 20th-seeded Tiafoe showed up to the Open wearing a Jalen Brunson Knicks jersey (by accident) — and then hugged new Knicks star Mikal Bridges in the stands after his first-round win over Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko.

“It’s funny,” Tiafoe said. “I actually tried to wear a Mikal Bridges because he was coming to the game today and he texted me that he was coming to the game, but I’m just not a morning person, so I put (the Brunson jersey) on and when I took it off to go to practice, I was like, ‘God, Jalen.

“But yeah, Brunson, he’s the man here. He’s almost bigger than Jay-Z.”

Brunson was recently named captain of the Knicks, earning praise from former Villanova coach Jay Wright.

Earlier this summer, Brunson agreed to a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension that begins in 2025-26. That leaves $113 million in reserve over a year, giving the Knicks more flexibility in making deals and signing free agents.

As for Bridges, who was acquired in a blockbuster deal with the rival Nets in June, Tiafoe said they are developing a friendship.

“A mutual friend put us in touch,” he said. “I’m friends with a lot of guys in the league just because I follow a lot of basketball, I have a lot of basketball celebrations. I did his post-game celebration for him, and he was laughing.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s all just, you know, my love for basketball and them just following me because someone of color plays tennis. That’s kind of a connection.”

In his next match, Tiafoe will face another American player of color: Ben Shelton, born in Atlanta.

A year ago, unseeded Shelton knocked Tiafoe out of the quarterfinals en route to his first Grand Slam semifinal, where he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

Now the two American stars will face each other in the third round on Friday and Tiafoe is out for revenge.

“I hope we play again for sure,” he said before Shelton won his match in straight sets. “I definitely want to play him. He’s obviously very similar to me in how enthusiastic and energetic he is on the court and he’s got such a great game and great shots and serves great and gets the crowd dancing.”

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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter covering Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his website at ZAGSBLOG.com.