Tuesday, October 22

Tiafoe Excessive on Hailey Baptiste and Remainder of Rising D.C. Crew

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday August 2, 2023

Frances Tiafoe, born and bred within the D.C. space – is completely satisfied that he’s not the one participant making a splash at this yr’s Mubadala Citi Open. The 25-year-old at all times expresses his loyalty and love for his fellow gamers from the world, which incorporates Hailey Baptiste, Robin Montgomery and up to date Wimbledon Girls’ champion Clervie Ngounoue.

This yr at Roland-Garros, Tiafoe spent just a few hours courtside as he supported Ngounoue throughout her junior run in Paris, and his assist spills over into the press room as nicely.

Whenever Tiafoe is requested, he alway has variety phrases for his fellow D.C. space natives.

“I think tennis is great [around Washington, D.C.],” he stated earlier this week. “Obviously Clervie just won Wimbledon. She’s from here. I don’t think many people know that. What a hell of a player she is and will become.

“I think Hailey Baptiste can be very good. I think Robin Montgomery can be really good. I think there’s going to be a lot of great players from the area, very talented players.”


Tiafoe, who’s into the spherical of 16 after a formidable two tiebreak win over Aslan Karatsev on Tuesday night time (which featured an look from one other legendary D.C. space athlete, Kevin Durant), is raring to see what Baptiste, who’s 21 years previous and presently ranked 204, can do in opposition to seventh-ranked Coco Gauff on Wednesday.

His brother, Franklin, presently coaches Baptiste.

Baptiste, who certified for the primary draw and took out former World No.1 Karolina Pliskova in three units on Tuesday, peaked within the rankings at 119 final March. But should you ask Tiafoe, she’s ticketed for a lot greater issues.

Fans bought a glimpse of that in 2019 in D.C. when Baptiste took out then Seventeenth-ranked Madison Keys for her first Top 20 win. She’ll bid for her second tonight in opposition to Gauff.


“Let’s see if those lights are going to be too bright or if she steps up to the plate,” he stated of her impending conflict with Gauff. “These are the kind of matches she needs to win if she wants to take it to the next level.” Tiafoe is excessive on Baptiste’s expertise and says that she simply wants to search out herself as a participant to have extra success.

“She’s one of the best players in the world, Hailey,” he stated. “Super talented. It’s all between the ears with her. I’m super proud of her today. I gave her a huge hug. I gave her her props. But I want her to turn a page. Wash her hands with it and get ready for tomorrow, because she’s got a tall order. Coco is an unbelievable player, and we all know what Coco does.”


Content Source: www.tennisnow.com