Hard as S***‘- Stunned Frances Tiafoe Drops Honest Reaction as Nick Kyrgios Takes His Venture to New Heights

“Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios” needs no introduction. A podcast series launched in 2024, where the tennis star engages in candid conversations with various influential personalities, has often delved into the personal journeys of its guests, exploring how they’ve navigated challenges. While legends like John McEnroe have joined Kyrgios to discuss their shared reputation as the sport’s “bad boys,” the Aussie’s partner in this venture, Naomi Osaka, has opened up about mental health struggles on the same podcast. Beyond tennis, the podcast has hosted diverse personalities. Recently, it featured the American singer Jason Derulo, garnering a lot of Frenzy from the fans, one of whom was Frances Tiafoe.

Non-tennis personalities like Matthew McConaughey, Mike Tyson, Piers Morgan, Jay Shetty, and actor Rainn Wilson have been on Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios before. So, Derulo’s appearance should come as no surprise. And, the episode, interestingly, was recorded live during the Desert Smash Celebrity Pickleball Challenge on March 4, 2025, at the La Quinta Resort Tennis Stadium. The event, which Kyrgios co-hosted alongside tennis star Naomi Osaka, combined the worlds of sports and entertainment, featuring a mix of celebrities and professional athletes.

Derulo, known for his chart-topping hits and dynamic stage presence, participated in the pickleball matches and later joined Kyrgios for a candid conversation on the podcast. The live setting added an interactive and engaging element to the podcast, allowing fans to experience the conversation in real time.

For those who couldn’t come see the podcast in real time, Kyrgios took to his Instagram account to announce the feat. “Today’s guest on GOOD TROUBLE is ICONIC 🎲🎥🍿”, he posted, with a carousel of pictures of him and the singer, engaged in conversation or just flexing their fits. Quick to comment on this post was an excited Frances Tiafoe who revved up the icons saying, “Nah this hard as sh*t.”

For someone who likes songs from artists like No Pressure and the Carter V, being a fan of Jason Derulo is a no-brainer. To top it off, Frances Tiafoe and Jason Derulo share more in common than just their successes in tennis and music, respectively. Both come from immigrant backgrounds: Tiafoe, who is the son of Sierra Leonean immigrants, and Derulo, whose parents are Haitian, have both seen themselves through poverty and battled against harrowing prejudices to hold on to their spot in their respective fields. But Derulo might not be Tiafoe’s favorite singer, you know!

When Frances Tiafoe had an unplanned interaction with Taylor Swift

While Frances Tiafoe is no stranger to sharing the spotlight with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment, even he couldn’t hide his excitement after meeting Taylor Swift. The American tennis star recently opened up about his experience rubbing shoulders with Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, at an NFL game last year.

Reflecting on his interaction with Swift in a candid conversation with Tennis TV, he said, “We go into the suite. The first person we see in the suite is Taylor. And I’m like, okay, don’t try to act like you’ve been here before. And so it’s crazy because, you know, like I’m not even saying I’m swiftie, but like I appreciate greatness so much. And seeing how cool she was, she’s got my ultimate respect. First off, she was very knowledgeable about what I was doing.”

What impressed Tiafoe the most was Swift’s knowledge of his tennis career. “She’s like, ‘Man, we wanted to watch you play in the final and this and that at the [US] Open,’” he shared. The 27-year-old also revealed that Kelce is a fan of his, making the experience even more surreal. The group spent the day together, with Tiafoe describing Swift as “one of the most humble people” despite her global superstardom. “Super down to earth. She’s amazing. And hopefully, we can do that again,” he added.

While Tiafoe continues to chase tennis glory, it seems his off-court encounters are just as thrilling as his on-court battles. Don’t you think?