Fans making bizarre requests to players is not uncommon in professional sports. It was only at this year’s AO that we saw an overenthusiastic Aussie fan heckling Novak Djokovic hilariously and interrupting his on-court interview when the Serb amusingly replied, “Sorry mate, I have a wife. We can have a drink, though. Maybe you had a few already.” It wasn’t clear what the fan was asking for, but Nole seemingly had had enough of it. While bizarre fan moments add to the sport’s charm, some encounters go beyond the court. Just ask American star Frances Tiafoe, as he certainly faced one recently, after which he needed to clarify that he didn’t want to be a dad anytime soon! So, what actually happened?

Tiafoe’s clay-court season hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. After a promising run to the final at the ATP Houston Open, the American star stumbled in Monte Carlo, losing in the R32 to Alexei Popyrin. Things didn’t improve much in Barcelona either, where local favorite Jaume Munar staged a stunning comeback to defeat the 9th seed 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.

With momentum slipping and tough opponents lining up, Tiafoe’s European clay swing has been more grind than glory. However, off the court, Big Foe found himself in the middle of one of the most bizarre fan interactions of the season. While the tournament buzzed with matchday excitement in Barcelona, Tiafoe shared a moment that could have changed his life, literally.

Recently, the official ATP Tour’s X page shared a humorous video asking players about the most bizarre fan requests they ever received. The post read, “The fans have asked for WHAT?!? 😳 😅 😂”

The video featured stars like Alex de Minaur, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Frances Tiafoe, who all shared their own strange experiences. Tiafoe chimed in with a particularly funny moment, recalling, “A kid the other day was asking if I can adopt him. I was like you don’t want me to be your legal guardian 😅” The video quickly went viral, as fans found the candid responses from the players both hilarious and relatable.

Frances Tiafoe’s charismatic personality has made the 27-year-old a fan favorite, but even his fellow ATP stars can’t resist poking fun at him. A couple of weeks ago, after their QFs encounter in Houston, Alex Michelsen showcased his impression of Tiafoe in a lighthearted video shared by the ATP Tour’s IG account. The 20-year-old nailed Tiafoe’s signature moves and mannerisms, humorously impersonating the Big Foe, much to the delight of fans.

“Yo, what’s good dude? There you can see Alex Michelsen. How’s everything? How’s your wife?” Michelsen said in Tiafoe’s speaking style. He then also tried imitating Big Foe’s walking style and said, “I have really tried on the walk. Just tryna, cause you’re really gotta stick it out a little bit? He goes like this. I am actually like it’s rubbed off me, it’s really bad actually. I spent too much time around him recently.”

Well, bizarre fan questions aside, Tiafoe’s form has been inconsistent this season. What’s his goal moving forward?

Frances Tiafoe is looking to climb up the rankings and get into top 10

Frances Tiafoe’s 2025 season hasn’t exactly gone according to plan, with ten wins in 19 matches so far. On clay, he’s played 7 matches, winning four. His clay season kicked off at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston, where he impressed by reaching the final with solid wins over Adam Walton, Alex Michelsen, and Brandon Nakashima, before falling to Jenson Brooksby in straight sets. 

He then made his Monte-Carlo Masters debut, edging Miomir Kecmanovic in a thrilling 3-set battle. Tiafoe put up a strong start against Alexei Popyrin in the second round but eventually lost in three sets. However, before the tournament, he voiced concerns about the congested schedule and also hinted at his desire to climb up the rankings again.

“Just wanted to get back into the top 10 and to get up for these events in the world. Obviously I love playing Houston, it was an ideal place there, get to the final, take a flight next day and play at the same day you arrive, yeah I want to figure out those two weeks but other than that you got to play these events in the world as first time get a little longer, time to use to the red clay, last few years I couldn’t get along so maybe get some longer time, maybe while the French Open comes, I play better,” Tiafoe said before the Monte Carlo Open.

After his early exit at the Barcelona Open, Frances Tiafoe is set to take the court at the Madrid Open, which kicks off on April 21. This will mark his fifth appearance at the Masters 1000 event, with his deepest runs so far being third-round finishes in 2021 and 2023. Can he go all the way this time around? Share your thoughts in the comments below.