In 2019, American tennis star Frances Tiafoe made a bold statement, forecasting a bright future for his compatriot, Hailey Baptiste. Fast forward to the present, and his prophecy is coming to fruition. Baptiste, now a top 100 player, has been turning heads with her stellar performances, including a quarterfinal appearance at the ASB Classic and a sensational victory over former World No. 8, Daria Kasatkina, at the Miami Open. Following his own R32 victory, Tiafoe had some fresh comments to make about Baptiste. So, what’s his latest prediction?
Despite coming from an underprivileged background and lacking top-notch training equipment in his formative years, Tiafoe has always been a firm believer in the fruits of hard labor. This belief has undoubtedly played a part in his stellar rise to the 17th spot in global rankings. His exceptional performances over the years have made him a source of motivation for younger players like Baptiste and Robin Montgomery. Tiafoe has taken it upon himself to mentor the upcoming generation of Black tennis players.
While speaking about Baptiste and Montgomery, Tiafoe once affirmed, “They’re from my area in the DMV, and there’s nothing I take more pride in than D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. I’ve been spending a lot of time with Hailey this week. I am always rooting for her to win.” In a brotherly gesture, he vowed, “I will not let them fail.” It is evident that Tiafoe’s respect and admiration for Baptiste is mutual.
After her Miami Open journey came to an end, Baptiste took to social media to share some unforgettable moments from the tournament. Among her posts was a note that read, “Hailey Baptiste, you inspired me bro, keep going.” Tiafoe reposted the image on his Instagram story, proudly acknowledging his ‘little sis’ by saying, “No lies told, sis. Proud of you, young queen @haileybaptiste.“
Tiafoe’s admiration for Baptiste is not unilateral. Other tennis stars, including Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, and Nick Kyrgios, have also expressed their admiration for Baptiste. Her R32 opponent at the Miami Open, Osaka, commended Baptiste following their match, saying that she should already know that she’s a really good player. But what role has Tiafoe played in Baptiste’s remarkable journey?
Baptiste has always considered Tiafoe as her idol and a constant source of inspiration. The two share a bond that goes beyond tennis, dating back to their school days. Speaking about Tiafoe, Baptiste said, “He’s always a huge inspiration to me and he’s like a brother to me. We went to school together when I was in fourth grade. I’d be with him all day and hang out with him every weekend, and we’re still close to this day. His family is basically my family.”
Tiafoe recently added another feather to his cap, marking his 100th ATP Masters 1000 match with his 50th win at this level. He achieved this feat following a 7-5,7-6(5) victory over Spanish star Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, in the R64 of the 2024 Miami Open. On his win, Tiafoe commented, “Wins like that are big for me. Any win right now is big for me, but especially the way I played. I was super aggressive, so I’m really happy with it.”
Interestingly, Tiafoe has maintained a formidable 17-6 record in U.S. matches since July. He has also managed to win all his opening matches this year, although he is yet to record multiple victories at the same event. He is now set to face Frenchman Arthur Fils in the next round. Who will emerge victorious in their first face-off? Only time will tell.
