Frances Tiafoe wore a Charlotte Hornets jersey when he won his exhibition tennis match against Carlos Alcaraz.
The next day, Tiafoe returned to the Spectrum Center to watch the Hornets play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.
During the game, Tiafoe tossed souvenir tennis balls into the stands and visited the Cavaliers’ locker room after their 116-102 victory over the Hornets.
“I’m a big NBA fan and I know and like a lot of the guys in the league,” Tiafoe said after collecting signed jerseys from Cleveland players Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Garland shared that he met Tiafoe during Fashion Week in New York in February.
“We just hit it off and I came to the tennis match last night, talked to him a little bit and told him to come to the game today,” Garland said. “It’s pretty cool to know someone in another sport like him.”
Garland also mentioned that he received a signed tennis ball from Friday’s exhibition.
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool that he wanted a jersey,” Garland said. “I got a signed tennis ball and I think that’s a pretty good trade-off.”
Tiafoe, who is from Hyattsville, Maryland, mentioned that he grew up a Wizards fan and that former Washington guard John Wall is his favorite player. Bradley Beal, a former Wizards star, was in the stands at Flushing Meadows to support Tiafoe when he reached the U.S. Open semifinals in 2006.
“I’m still a Wizards fan and an NBA fan,” the 26-year-old Tiafoe said. “I love going to games when I can.”
Hornets coach Charles Lee was excited that Tiafoe, currently ranked No. 18 in men’s singles, attended his team’s practice on Friday.
“I think it’s good for our players,” Lee said. “It’s great for them to interact with another guy who is one of the best in the world in his craft and profession. They get to sit down and pick his brain a little bit.
“Having him at practice yesterday was very cool. I admire him from afar. What he’s been able to achieve at a young age on the tennis circuit.”
Tiafoe wore a replica jersey of Hornets guard Brandon Miller when he defeated Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam champion from Spain, 5-7, 6-1, 11-9 on Friday. Earlier in the day, 2017 U.S. Open women’s singles champion Sloane Stephens played an exhibition match against Madison Keys.
The tennis event attracted 16,194 fans, a few hours before the NBA game, which drew 18,832 spectators.
Among those attending the tennis match on Friday were Hornets players Miller, LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Mark Williams, Josh Green, Vasa Micic, and Taj Gibson. Cavaliers players Garland, Ty Jerome, and Georges Niang were also in the crowd.
The Hornets introduced Tiafoe in the first quarter of Saturday’s game.
“It’s been an amazing experience here in Charlotte,” Tiafoe told the crowd.
