Frances Tiafoe was cheered on by an interesting amalgamation of Hollywood stars yesterday during his last 16-cash. His girlfriend, Ayan Broomfield as always was a presence as he overcame Alexei Popyrin to reach his third US Open quarterfinal in a row. But this time, Broomfield was joined by a star-studded entourage which included one of the couple’s favorite stars.

The aftermath of the match against Popyrin showed Tiafoe and Broomfield going behind the scenes with the cast of Scandal, which included Scott Foley, Bellamy Young, and the show creator Shonda Rhimes. Sharing photos from the night which also included a picture from the stands with the cast, Broomfield wrote, “Petition to rename us open to Shondaland.” 

There were also pictures of Frances Tiafoe and his girlfriend meeting Rhimes and the cast separately. And riding on the high of the match, the ATP star commented on Broomfield’s post, “What a ride we on babes so much more ahead 🤞🏿🤞🏿🤞🏿”

Broomfield, herself a former tennis player, also dropped a photo of her boyfriend posing alongside Shonda Rhimes for a photo. Her other photo drops from the night included her flaunting her fashionable outfits as she stoodout among a plethora of celebs at the Arthur Ashe stadium.

Celebrity sightings in Flushing Meadows at this time of the year are not uncommon. The likes of Hugh Jackman, Kevin Hart, and Ben Stiller are only a few of the many popular names spotted watching the action on the court during this year’s US Open. Even Serena Williams made a surprise visit to tell Tiafoe that she believed in him. Tiafoe’s message for his girlfriend resonates with a similar sentiment he shared last year as well.

In June 2023, Tiafoe became among the top 10 players in the world and Broomfield marked the occasion by sharing a carousel of his boyfriend’s on-court accomplishments over the years. “TOP 10 IN THE WORLD! I started taking screenshots of different moments and accomplishments a few years ago in anticipation of this day. I can’t post them all but I think this tells the story pretty well. I am so proud of you,” she wrote in the Instagram post.

Tiafoe responded to the post with an emotional comment. He wrote, “Man to think how far we’ve come. 2015 meeting you for the first and also just starting my career. Youve rocked with me thru it all. The good the bad and the standstills. It’s been a ride no one can put into words.”

Apart from being a strong support system for Tiafoe over the years, Broomfield has a lot going on her as well. She was crowned as the NCAA doubles champion in 2019 alongside Gabby Andrews when she was a senior at UCLA. She also played tennis as a pro which led to her landing the role of a body double for Saniyya Sidney, the actress who portrayed Venus Williams in King Richard.

Broomfield has also landed partnerships with Wilson and Athleta, a brand known for women’s activewear. This year in January, she started the Ayan Broomfield Foundation. The foundation’s aim is to “elevate local programs worldwide” and “provide those in need with athletic gear to enrich their lives through the power of sport.”

Meanwhile, out of the several big names present at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Tiafoe particularly noted Tony Goldwyn, and even gave him a shoutout when Chris Eubanks was interviewing him after the match.

The American star grabbed the mic to say, “Hold on, hold on. Sorry, sorry. Tony Goldwyn was in the crowd. Yo, I’m a huge fan of you, bro. Me and my girl used to watch Scandal all the time. I’m a huge fan, brother. I’m a huge fan, bro. I gotta say that!” Immediately afterward, the camera panned to Goldwyn in the crowd who had a big grin on his face, cheering on for the ATP star.

And cheers are deserved. Frances Tiafoe has become the first American man since Andy Roddick in (2006-08) to reach the QFs of the US Open three years in a row. But interestingly, despite the star power backing him up from the sidelines, Tiafoe almost didn’t make it through.

After taking revenge on Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe survived a close encounter with Alexei Popyrin

Ben Shelton vs. Frances Tiafoe in the third round was the kind of match the seats spilled over for. The duo had met in the quarter-finals last year when Shelton had upset Tiafoe to advance to the semis. But this year the 26-year-old turned the tables on Shelton in such as way that even Shelton was clapping for him.

Against Popyrin again, the comeback came in the second set, when the Aussie was serving and Tiafoe was one point away from losing the second set. “The second set was a huge, huge win for me,” Tiafoe said afterward. “You know, 5-3, 40-love, him serving, how good he serves, that was really, really big. To break there and then to win that set was huge.”

It’s a major victory for the American, whose 2024 season has been lackluster, to say the least. But the hardcourt season has finally picked up for him, and Tiafoe believes, “Everything is happening when it’s meant to happen. I’m glad it’s happening now because this is the most important time for me.”

Next up, Tiafoe will face No. 9 seed Grigor Dimitrov. Broomfield will be there cheering him on and the home crowd will firmly be on the side of Frances Tiafoe, as he eyes more history.