"I told Carlos Alcaraz I couldn't stand him": Frances Tiafoe hilariously reveals details of his net exchange with Spaniard after Wimbledon 3R thriller
Frances Tiafoe has shed light on the hilarious details of his exchange with Carlos Alcaraz at the net after their riveting clash. The duo produced a thrilling battle in the third round of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.
With a spot in the fourth round on the line, Tiafoe edged past the Spaniard to clinch the opener 7-5. However, Alcaraz dominated the second set to level the scores. The duo also split the results of the third and fourth sets, with the World No. 3 eventually prevailing in the decider, keeping his title defense alive with a 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 victory in three hours and 51 minutes.
This isn't the first time Frances Tiafoe and Carlos Alcaraz have delivered a nail-biting five-set battle, having previously put on a show during their semifinal clash at the 2022 US Open. The Spaniard claimed victory on that occasion as well, beating Tiafoe 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 en route to his maiden Grand Slam title.
The American hilariously recounted their conversation at the net in his post-match press conference, revealing that he jokingly told Alcaraz that he couldn't stand him after yet another devastating loss to the Spaniard.
Nevertheless, Tiafoe also emphasized the mutual respect they share, disclosing that the 21-year-old hailed him as one of the best players in the world and commended him for performing at such a high level.
"Just our respect. He told me: 'It's great to see you playing like this'. I told him I couldn't stand him (laughs). I told him to go the other way and I wished him the best in winning the title. Carlos kept telling me that I'm one of the best players in the world. I have a lot of respect for him," he said.
Carlos Alcaraz after Wimbledon 3R win: "Frances Tiafoe is a really talented player, he deserves to be at the top"
Carlos Alcaraz also expressed his admiration for Frances Tiafoe after his victory, expressing his belief that the formidable American deserves to be in contention for big titles.
"It is always a big challenge playing against Frances. He is a really talented player and tough to face and we saw it once again that he deserves to be at the top and deserves to fight for big things," Carlos Alcaraz said.
The World No. 3 admitted that he struggled to adapt his game and exert pressure on Tiafoe during the match, but expressed satisfaction with his ability to pull off the challenging win regardless.
"It was really difficult for me to adapt my game, find solutions and try to put him in trouble, but I am really happy to do it at the end of the match," he added.
Following his win over Frances Tiafoe, Carlos Alcaraz will continue his title defense against the winner of the match between Brandon Nakashima and Ugo Humbert in the fourth round.