Tiafoe believes players showing more emotion will help bring younger fans to tennisGETTY IMAGES
American tennis player Frances Tiafoe after just five years on the ATP Tour has "already established himself among the sport's greatest showmen," according to Zach Baron of GQ. The 21-year-old, who is ranked 36th in the world, is "intensely expressive on the court," as he might follow a great shot by standing for a second, "shaking his fist, absorbing the echo, holding the pose." While making the quarterfinals at the Australian Open earlier this year, his celebrations after wins "became increasingly intense and elaborate," including at one point mimicking LeBron James' "signature silencer celebration." Tiafoe said, "Instead of just doing the classic boring waves to the crowd and saying, 'Thank you,' it's kind of like: Why not do these NBA celebrations?" He added, "Tennis needs more personality in it, and a younger crowd to follow the game and to make tennis cool again." Tiafoe indicated that he is "proud to have an actual personality on a tour that sometimes seemed like it rewarded, or at least wanted to reward, emotionless machines." Tiafoe: "These young guys are almost, like, afraid of me in a sense, because I do have a personality. It's weird. People in tennis, they've been in a certain bubble for so long they don't even know who they are. ... When tennis is done, then what? It's kinda like: Let's enjoy being great at the sport" (GQ, 6-7/ '19 issue).
