“This is your time. Embrace being on this stage: NBA All-Star Bradley Beal insists he “couldn’t be prouder” of his girlfriend Frances Tiafoe as the couple celebrate together courtside after their quarterfinal win at the US Open
- Frances Tiafoe defeated Andrey Rublev 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the US Open
- He will play against either No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz or No. 11 Jannik Sinner in the semifinals
- Tiafoe is the last American standing and he had many big names watching
- One of those was his friend and NBA All-Star Bradley Beal, who praised him
Movie stars, athletes, musicians and more were spotted throughout the US Open, but Wednesday’s quarterfinals were more than just another match for a particular celebrity.
Washington Wizards All-Star Bradley Beale was in the stands to cheer on his close friend Frances Tiafoe, who stunned the crowd at Arthur Ashe as he defeated No. 9 Andrey Rublev in straight sets to secure his place in the last four.
However, Beal wasn’t terribly surprised to see his close friend of decades had claimed victory.
Francis Tiafoe stunned the crowd at Arthur Ashe after defeating No 9 Andrey Rublev
After the win, Tiafoe rushed to hug NBA superstar and close friend Bradley Beal
“I would not say that [this is] unexpectedly,” he said after they celebrated together on the sidelines after the game. “Of course, maybe because of the placement, but as we told him yesterday when he was enjoying the moment.”
“We told him, ‘Believe it. Believe you belong here. Believe you worked so hard for this moment.”
Tiafoe’s moment came when he defeated Rublev 7-6 7-6 6-4. It remains to be seen if he will have the same success in the semi-final against the winner of the quarter-final match between No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 11 Jannik Sinner.
Tiafoe returns a forehand down the baseline in the US Open quarterfinals
Tiafoe is the first American since Andy Roddick in 2006 to reach a men’s US Open semifinals
The pair met 10 years ago when Beal was just starting out with the Wizards. A Washington native, Tiafoe was a young teenager whose tennis career was in its infancy.
Since then, Beale has become one of the deadliest scorers in the NBA, and Tiafoe is poised to put his name in American tennis’s record books.
‘Super excited for him,’ added Beal. ‘To see how it’s grown. I met him when I came to DC. He was a little kid trying to make a name for himself and so was I. I can’t be prouder of him.”
Beal watches the men’s singles quarterfinal match between Rublev and his friend Tiafoe
No home player has reached the last four in men’s singles since Andy Roddick in 2006 and Tiafoe is looking to become the first home winner since Roddick won his only Slam title in 2003.
Beal, who has a newborn in DC, will be returning home for a few days but is hoping to return and cheer for his friend, and while enjoying the game he expressed his utmost respect.
“It’s 100 percent [different]’ Bel said. “I have a lot of respect for tennis players and anyone in an individual sport. It’s tough. You can’t talk to your box, can’t interact. You have to be locked up and show intensity for four hours. It is a mind game to the extreme.”
Beal dribbles onto the court for the Wizards in the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Fedex Forum
