NEW YORK — There was not much drama involved in Frances Tiafoe’s second-round victory at the U.S. Open on Wednesday night.
He quickly grabbed a lead and never let go. He faced one break point and saved it. He volleyed terrifically. His outmatched opponent needed some help from a trainer for a bothersome neck.
And you couldn’t escape the feeling that the 10th-seeded Tiafoe was having the time of his life. This is where the American tennis star wants to be, no matter the details of the match. Under the lights at a Grand Slam tournament, absorbing the attention of thousands of folks in the Arthur Ashe Stadium stands and reciprocating the love — in this case, while getting past Austria’s Sebastian Ofner, 6-3, 6-1, 6-4, in a tad more than 1 1/2 hours.
“I love it. I love it. I love all of it. I love the one-on-one battle. You’re putting your heart on the line. Everyone’s there to watch you and one other guy. You’re competing like crazy. Everyone’s anticipating the match. And it’s like, ‘Who wants it more?'” Tiafoe, a 25-year-old from Maryland, said during an interview before the U.S. Open.
“If you don’t love that, it’s the wrong sport for you. I just absolutely love being in those positions and those atmospheres.”