Frances Tiafoe felt like Roger Federer after defeating Daniil Medvedev at the 2024 Laver Cup in Berlin.
On the second day of the event, Tiafoe faced Medvedev in a singles match. He had never won against Medvedev before, so he was highly motivated. The Russian took the first set 6-3, making it seem like history would repeat itself. But then something clicked for Tiafoe.
He fought back to win the second set and dominated the match tie-break, giving Team World a 4-2 lead. In his post-match interview, Tiafoe said he felt like Federer during that second set because he played exceptionally well.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 Frances Tiafoe | 26 | 1,590 | 12 - 12 |
Feeling Like Federer:
“It was crazy,” Tiafoe laughed. “I played pretty well there in the second set. Honestly, I just started having fun, laughing with my team and really finding my rhythm.”
“The court is obviously much slower than what I’m used to playing on,” he continued. “It was tough to play Daniil on this court, but midway through the second set, I felt like I was Roger Federer.”
Fans might think it’s funny how athletes sometimes compare themselves to legends.
Tiafoe’s comment got laughs from the crowd and even from himself. Reporters were curious if he meant it seriously. True to his personality, Tiafoe admitted he was mainly joking because Federer was watching from the stands.
“No, that was a joke,” Tiafoe explained. “He just jokes around with me all the time every time I see him. What a guy he is. So I just had to shout him out. It’s his event too, so I thought it was a nice touch.”
Tiafoe and Federer share some history; they played an important doubles match at the 2022 Laver Cup where Tiafoe and Jack Sock defeated Federer and Nadal in Federer’s last competitive match ever.
This year’s Laver Cup allowed Federer to watch Tiafoe win another match up close as part of Team World’s success—a competition where Tiafoe shines both as a player and entertainer.
The format suits him perfectly, which is why he keeps returning and has been crucial in Team World’s victories over the past two years.
What do you think about players comparing themselves to legends?