In front of an energetic hometown crowd that included NBA superstar and fellow Prince George’s County sports royalty Kevin Durant, Frances Tiafoe beat Aslan Karatsev from Russia, 7-6, 7-6 Tuesday night at the Mubadala DC Citi Open.
“It was dope, it was dope,” Tiafoe said. “I seen KD (Durant), and I’m, like, bro, I’m going to play Tuesday, Wednesday. I don’t know how long you’re staying, but it would be dope if you can come. He’s, like, 100% we’re going to make it happen.”
Current and former members of the Washington Bullets were also in attendance as well as Washington Mystics players. “It was a great atmosphere. Everyone in D.C. who is super excited, I got, like, 55 tickets, something crazy, friends and family…Everyone is going nuts. I have never filled that stadium before in my opening match, so I guess it’s a testament to how I have been doing lately.”
Durant sat courtside with tournament CEO Mark Ein and his Rollingwood Elementary School classmate and now Commanders’ owner Josh Harris.
Big Foe has greatness in his corner tonight 👏@KDTrey5 | @FTiafoe | #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/IpLMcS4Bwm
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) August 2, 2023
Real recognize real 🫡@KDTrey5 | @FTiafoe | #MubadalaCitiOpen pic.twitter.com/Ey1JMawkiV
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) August 2, 2023
Tiafoe will next play 17 year-old Juncheng Shang from China Wednesday night.
Featured photo courtesy Mubadala DC Citi Open
