Frances Tiafoe loves basketball. That’s no secret. The American tennis star has made it clear time and again—he’s a die-hard NBA fan. And when it comes to his favorites, Kevin Durant sits right at the top. Another reason BigFoe looks up to Durant? They’re both from the Washington D.C. area. And they’re both making their hometown proud. So when the World No.18 saw a clip of Durant getting emotional while talking about the impact of basketball, he couldn’t help but relate.

The clip came from Court of Gold, a new Netflix docuseries that takes fans behind the scenes of the U.S. Men’s National Basketball Team as they chase their fifth straight Olympic gold medal. With superstars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Durant himself, the show offers an unfiltered look at the emotions and struggles of these elite athletes.

In one particular interview, Durant opened up about his journey, reflecting on how basketball shaped his life. He said, “Nah for sure for sure..cause it’s like I come from a neighborhood where people don’t even talk to each other, like..so much hate in the world too, like when you finally..when people start laughing and joking for a game of ball, it’s cool to me, so like it gets me emotional dawg…the game has saved my life.”

It was raw. It was real. And Tiafoe felt it. The 27-year-old took to Instagram and shared a two-word reaction: “Felt this.”

Tiafoe’s reaction wasn’t just about being a fan. He could relate to Durant’s words on a deep level. Like Durant, Tiafoe didn’t come from wealth or privilege. His parents, immigrants from Sierra Leone, worked tirelessly to give him and his twin brother, Franklin, a better life. Their father worked as a laborer at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in Maryland before becoming the head of maintenance. Their mother, a nurse, worked night shifts. When she was at work, the brothers often slept in their father’s office at the tennis center. It was far from the glamorous world of professional tennis. But it was there that Tiafoe first picked up a racket. A kid with no expensive gear, no top-tier coaching, just a love for the game and an unstoppable drive.

Fast forward to today, and Tiafoe is one of the best tennis players in the world. He has taken down some of the biggest names in the sport and continues to make history. This is probably why Durant also appreciates BigFoe.

Kevin Durant shows up to cheer for Frances Tiafoe

Frances Tiafoe has always been vocal about his admiration for KD. So, you can imagine his excitement when Durant showed up to watch him play. Back in 2023, during the Citi Open in Washington D.C., Durant, along with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Daniel Gafford, sat courtside for Tiafoe’s second-round match. The moment wasn’t lost on the tennis star.

In his post-match conference, the American tennis star said, “Guys like KD and [Kentavious] Caldwell-Pope and [Daniel Gafford] want to come see me play. I have just worked really hard over the years. I think it’s come from a great place. I’m super humble about it. I’m humble they want to take the time out and come and watch me play.”

Durant, in return, had nothing but praise for Tiafoe. He remarked, “It was a lot of energy and it was exciting. I’m glad he got the win. He’s just bringing that energy from this area. He represents right. So, we’re all proud of him.” While the love from KD is great, Frances Tiafoe has his own battles to fight on the court.

The 2025 season hasn’t been kind to Tiafoe so far. With a 3-3 win/loss record, he’s still searching for momentum. But the year is young, and there’s plenty of tennis left to play. Up next for BigFoe? The Mexican Open, kicking off on February 24. Can Tiafoe turn things around and make 2025 a year to remember? What do you think?