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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Could Frances Tiafoe Be The Next American Men's Tennis Star?

On Sunday, Tiafoe became the youngest U.S. player to win an ATP event since Andy Roddick in '02GETTY IMAGES

Frances Tiafoe won his first ATP event on Sunday at the Delray Beach Open and provided a "breath of fresh air for American men’s tennis," according to Stanley Kay of SI.com. The 20-year-old Tiafoe is the youngest U.S. player to win an ATP event since Andy Roddick in '02, and there is "something electric about his presence on the court." Americans Jack Sock, Sam Querrey and John Isner are all "really solid players, but Tiafoe has unique potential." He seems to "possess the spiritual connection between his game and the crowd that’s so rare on tour, even among the world’s best." It is "too early to say whether Tiafoe will become a top 10 player," but he is "already more compelling than any young American man on tour since Roddick." Tiafoe has "long possessed the crossover appeal so rare in tennis players of any nationality in this age." If his performance in Delray Beach was "any indication, Tiafoe’s much-hyped bright future might not be so far in the distance" (SI.com, 2/26). TENNIS.com's Steve Tignor wrote U.S. tennis, after a "poor showing at the Australian Open, and an ugly dustup between Ryan Harrison and Donald Young" at the N.Y. Open, was "looking for a feel-good story, and few could have fit the bill like a title run from Tiafoe." He plays an" exciting and explosive game." Tiafoe is a "likable, mature, unwhiny guy who knows how to put on a show" (TENNIS.com, 2/26).

HEADY COMPANY: Tiafoe after his win on Sunday was part of a Tennis Channel graphic putting him next to Roddick, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang as the youngest Americans to win an ATP event. Tennis Channel's James Blake said, "Five Hall of Famers and Frances -- no pressure. We’re not putting any pressure on you at all.” Tennis Channel’s Lindsay Davenport: “We’re not looking to anoint you as a superstar yet, or maybe we are.” Tennis Channel’s Prim Siripipat: “No pressure whatsoever with that graphic” (“Tennis Channel Live,” Tennis Channel, 2/26).

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