Frances Tiafoe has been reunited with his tennis racket after losing track of it during the wild celebrations that followed his French Open victory over Hubert Hurkacz. The American 19th seed triumphed in a five-set battle to reach the third round at Roland Garros, but the post-match melee saw his Yonex racket go missing.
Reward Offered for Return
Tiafoe later revealed that his racket had been taken in the celebratory chaos and offered a reward of two tickets to the person who had taken it. The thief apparently took him up on the offer, as the racket was returned to his coach.
Describing the moment it was pinched, Tiafoe explained: “I hugged him with my racket in my hand, and then I was, like, my arm is getting stuck. But my mind’s going a thousand miles an hour, so at the time I’m trying to chill out, give my respects to my opponent, give my respects to the ref. And then you’re like, ‘Wait, hold on, what’s was going on?’ They were locking me in. I thought I was going to fall into the crowd at one point. But it was fun, it was a cool moment. But I actually need that racket.”
European Love for Tennis
The 28-year-old had suggested that he might not have been reunited with the item had he been playing in the United States, but added: “In Europe, they love tennis so much, I think I’m going to get it.”
Tiafoe now faces Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria in the third round, with his section of the draw opening up after the shock exit of world No 1 and tournament favourite Jannik Sinner. Tiafoe reached the quarter-finals in Paris last year.
