"Coming from her, it's just so loud" - Frances Tiafoe discloses Serena Williams' words as he received pep talk from legend before his US Open 4R win

US tennis player Frances Tiafoe has opened up on the pep talk he received from the legendary Serena Williams before his fourth-round victory over Alexei Popyrin at the 2024 US Open. The Maryland native ousted Popyrin 6-4, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3 on Sunday, September 1, and advanced to the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.

Tiafoe, who has a career-high singles ranking of World No. 10, is aiming for his first Grand Slam title in New York. He defeated Aleksander Kovacevic in the first round, Alexander Shevchenko in the second, and Ben Shelton in the third. Tiafoe clashed with Australia's Popyrin in the fourth round after receiving a motivational talk from the 23-time Major winner, Serena Williams.

Williams encouraged the 26-year-old to believe in himself and expressed her wish to see him succeed. Shedding light on the gravity of Williams' words, Frances Tiafoe said (via US Open Tennis Championships' YouTube channel):

"It was really cool to have her want to talk to me before my match and really say she wants me to do this thing that I'm capable of doing. Coming from her, it's just so loud. I don't think any of it will hit me like that if anybody else said it to me." [8:20]

He further talked about the nervousness that hit him when he tried to answer her questions.

"Her telling me she just wants nothing but the best for me, giving me some game right before the match, 'How are you feeling, where are you at?' It's so funny her asking me that. I'm like nervous to respond. She's not someone you're going to bullsh*t," he added. [7:57]

Frances Tiafoe dreamt of playing at Arthur Ashe Stadium after watching the Williams sisters and Roger Federer

US Open 2024 - Day 7 - Source: Getty

Frances Tiafoe defeated Alexei Popyrin in four sets in the fourth round of the 2024 US Open and is set to face ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, September 3. Tiafoe expressed pride and contentment after getting to play at Arthur Ashe Stadium, something he dreamt of after watching Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Roger Federer.

"I always dreamt about playing on this court, from a kid…seeing the Williams sisters win titles here, seeing Roger [Federer] win here a million times. It brings out the best of me," he said (via Tennis.com).

Frances Tiafoe has joined Taylor Fritz as the second American man to reach the quarter-finals at this year's US Open. Andy Roddick was the last US player to win a Grand Slam men's singles title. He won the 2003 US Open.