Americans witnessed a historic event at the US Open after years, as Coco Gauff delivered on the country’s hopes as it’s torchbearer. But on the flip side, the ATP players who represent the US are still awaiting their glory. While the world hailed the American males after four reached the Flushing Meadows quarter-finals, the Davis Cup crushed the US Open high. Frances Tiafoe lost in straight sets to Croatia’s Borna Gojo. Post the humiliating loss, fans did not mince their words.
America stands at the top of the charts, with 9 Davis Cup titles in the Open Era, and Sweden and Australia are short of 2 and 3 titles, respectively, to equal the record. Starting the historic tournament with a loss from America’s top seed stunned the fans. But 2023 has been laced with ups and downs for the former Top-10 player, and the recent defeat received massive backlash from the world.
Frances Tiafoe faces the wrath of fans as hopes turn to ashes
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Big Foe was stripped of his Top 10 ranking following his quarter-final loss at New York Slam to his compatriot Ben Shelton. Since Shelton is an American teen prodigy, tennis fans’ focus shifted to praise him. But the scene at one of the most prominent men’s tennis tournaments in the world is different. This is a fight to be crowned as ‘World Champions’. One mistake, one loss, and one wrong decision put a country’s hopes and chances in jeopardy.
More than the loss, it was Tiafoe’s errors that angered the fans. He could not put up an intense fight against Gojo, who attacked the American with his big serve and massive Forehand shots. The Croatian played one of his best career matches on his home turf. The World No.11 was also crushed by this defeat and looked like he was about to have a breakdown. The official ATP account reported, “What it means 😤Borna Gojo defeats Frances Tiafoe in straight sets in home soil.”
What it means 😤
Borna Gojo defeats Frances Tiafoe in straight sets in home soil 🇭🇷@DavisCup | #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/KlAv4c0wlt
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 13, 2023
Fans vented their frustration in the comments as they lashed out at the American’s way of playing. They called out the ATP champion for his ‘terrible’ play and wondered how he is a top-ranked player.
One tennis fan issued his verdict and posted, ”Tiafoe should never play David cup again.”
Tiafoe should never play David cup again
— Andres F Montoya (@AndresFMontoyaT) September 13, 2023
Another tennis enthusiast labeled the 25-year-old as weak. The post read, ”Tiafoe is weak.”
Tiafoe is weak.
— Rosepeso (@Rosepeso167407) September 13, 2023
Jose Morgado, a renowned sports journalist and tennis commentator, posted, ”Fantastic win for Gojo over Tiafoe. CRO-USA into a deciding doubles.” An NFL fan reacted, ”how on earth is that tiafoe guy no.11 in the world? that dude is terrible.”
how on earth is that tiafoe guy no.11 in the world? that dude is terrible
— jakes (@CFCJakes) September 13, 2023
A tennis enthusiast suggested what Tiafoe should do to get in form as he wrote, ”Francis Tiafoe needs to seriously work on his movement and reaction time going into the next season. He’s looked inexplicably slow on points and reacting to shots on defense. It should be a strong point of his game.”
Francis Tiafoe needs to seriously work on his movement and reaction time going into the next season. He’s looked inexplicably slow on points and reacting to shots on defense. It should be a strong point of his game.
— Conor Levis (@ConorLevis) September 13, 2023
A user on X took a dig at American basketball and tennis professionals and posted, ”US failing at basketball and tennis is becoming too normal.”
US failing at basketball and tennis is becoming too normal.
— Ye.TY🔺🌎 (@demedicibank) September 13, 2023
An ‘X’ user who claims to be a sports expert wrote, ”Been a very up and down summer for Frances.”
Been a very up and down summer for Frances.
— Sports Expert (Max) 🔥 ARIAS AGENDA (@sportsexpert101) September 13, 2023
A tennis fan threw a pun at ‘Big Foe’ as he wrote, ”Classic foe right there.”
Classic foe right there
— Guini (@guini66) September 13, 2023
A sports enthusiast claimed that the American handed over the win to Gojo. He blamed, ”Tiafoe threw that match away himself.”
Tiafoe threw that match away himself
— Green Ticks (@Green__Ticks) September 13, 2023
Another sports enthusiast was disappointed in Tiafoe as the American displayed no consistent improvement.
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He wrote, ”Tiafoe has been horrible lately. It’s honestly shocking.”
Tiafoe has been horrible lately. It’s honestly shocking.
— TruthfulTakes (@TruthTakes0) September 13, 2023
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Tiafoe won the Stuttgart Open in June, earning him a good spot in the ATP rankings. But no significant win came for the American following the title, and he witnessed a downfall as quickly as he rose to the top. With players like Shelton and Felix Auger-Aliassime working hard to break new ground and settle at the top, Big Foe cannot afford huge losses at this point in his career.
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