NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Frances Tiafoe may have the best chance to become the first American men’s tennis star to win his first Grand Slam tennis event since Andy Roddick in 2003 and the first French Open winner since Andre Agassi.
That might have been why his match against Portugal’s Jaime Faria had an added intensity component to it on Saturday at the French Open. Tiafoe won the match 4-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-2, but the two competitors were seen shouting at each other in the fifth set.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Frances Tiafoe of the United States returns a shot during her match against Hubert Hurkacz of Poland on day five at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, on May 28, 2026. (Susan Mullane/Imagn Images)
The two talked back and forth on the end lines and came to the net. The referee tried to restart the match.
“Why don’t you stop acting like you’re tough? You’re not tough bro, just playin’,” Tiafoe was heard saying.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
The judge, who initially spoke to Faria, said that “all of this has to stop.”
Frances Tiafoe of the United States celebrates winning her match against Hubert Hurkacz of Poland on day five at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, on May 28, 2026. (Susan Mullane/Imagn Images)
Tiafoe completed the comeback victory to advance to the fourth round against Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi.
“I needed it,” Tiafoe said of the exchange. “Because I’m up at that point, but I’m still a little nervous. And he was chirping. He was definitely giving me a lot of mouth. He thought he was (boxer) Ryan Garcia or something.”
Frances Tiafoe of the United States returns a shot to Hubert Hurkacz of Poland during their second round men’s singles match at the French Open in Paris on May 28, 2026. (Emma Da Silva/AP)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
American men have been trying to bring a Grand Slam title back to the United States for a while. Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have been eliminated from the tournament, while Carlos Alcaraz is recovering from a wrist injury.
