Frances Tiafoe isn’t just a tennis player—he’s a full-time baller at heart. You’ll almost never spot him without some NBA gear, especially during tournaments. And it’s not just about the jerseys. Tiafoe’s built friendships with some of the biggest basketball names out there. In fact, he even got to live out a hoop dream last year. Let’s rewind to the 2023 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. Tiafoe stepped on the court, suited up, and scored two big buckets. Playing under NBA legend Dwyane Wade’s team, the tennis star helped his side grab the win. “Life-changing,” is how he summed up the experience. The man keeps his eyes glued to basketball headlines, whether he’s traveling the world or warming up for a final. But what happens when hoops and tennis collide?
Tiafoe just landed another final at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston. He beat Brandon Nakashima in straight sets—6-4, 7-6(3)—to book his spot in the championship match. This tournament clearly brings out something special in Big Foe.
In 2023, he lifted the title by defeating Tomas Martin Etcheverry. This year, he’s back in the final once again, after finishing runner-up in 2024 to Ben Shelton. That loss still stings, but he’s not dwelling on it. Instead, he’s looking ahead to a shot at redemption against fellow American Jenson Brooksby.
But before switching into full match mode, Tiafoe had something else to handle—March Madness. Just before his press duties, he locked into the Houston vs Duke NCAA clash. And who could blame him? The game turned into a thriller. The Houston Cougars, down by 14 with just over eight minutes to go, pulled off a wild comeback. A 9-0 run in the last 35 seconds sealed the deal. They beat the Duke Blue Devils 70-67 to punch their ticket to the national championship.
Tiafoe was watching it all go down. Men’s Clay Court’s Instagram caught him mid-game, eyes glued to the screen. The caption? “Press has to wait .” Enough said.
The former US Open finalist roots for the Washington Wizards, and the franchise clearly loves him back. In 2023, they gave out bobbleheads of Tiafoe at one of their games. But he’s also a Dukes fan. At least, that’s what his socials suggest. Last year, he shared a photo with Duke’s head coach Jon Scheyer after their dominant 84-55 win over Miami. That’s not just a one-off. He seems to ride with the Blue Devils—unless Houston’s pulling off a miracle right in front of him.
But that doesn’t mean he’s distracted from his true goals: the Men’s Clay Court finals!
Frances Tiafoe to face Jenson Brooksby in an all-American Houston final
Frances Tiafoe has already made history in Houston. He’s now the fourth player to reach at least three consecutive finals at this event. Only legends like Jimmy Connors, Andres Gomez, and Andy Roddick have done that before. That’s good company.
On the other side of the net, Jenson Brooksby is proving to be a formidable opponent. The 24-year-old stunned top seed Tommy Paul in the semi-final, saving a match point and winning a nail-biter—7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(6). After the match Brooksby said, “I’ve been able to recall a lot of those (match point) moments this tournament, and I think I’ve grown stronger with each one. I’m just really pleased with how I’ve maintained my mental composure throughout the week.”
Here’s something else to note: Brooksby leads Tiafoe 2-0 in their head-to-head. Add to that the fact that Brooksby is ranked World No. 507, and suddenly this final has all the ingredients of a showdown.
Still, Tiafoe isn’t shying away from the challenge. He posted a short video ahead of the final, sending a clear message. On Men’s Clay Court’s Instagram, he said, “What’s up Houston! Another final, third year in a row! Super happy about it! I love playing here, I love being here. I love everybody involved so let’s get it done tomorrow. Last year, I came up short, but more importantly, let’s have some fun, let’s have a great Sunday.”
We’ve got an all-American final on our hands. Who’s your pick for the big match on Sunday?
Djokovic
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