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Tiafoe and Sabalenka react to Federer’s appearance at Arthur Ashe night session
Five-time US Open champions watch Tiafoe and Sabalenka advance to semifinals
September 4, 2024
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Federer won five consecutive US Open titles from 2004 to 2008.
Written by ATP staff
During Tuesday night’s session, Francis Tiafoe and Aryna Sabalenka were focused on the important business on the court, but both players admitted they were aware of the star presence of Roger Federer watching from the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Federer, who won five consecutive titles at Flushing Meadows from 2004 to 2008, was spotted chatting with former U.S. Open semifinalist Tim Henman and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in one of the stands.
The Swiss legend first saw Sabalenka beat Zheng Qinwen 6-1, 6-2 in the women’s quarter-finals. He then watched American hope Tiafoe beat Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-1 to reach the men’s semi-finals after the Bulgarian player withdrew through injury.
Tiafoe said of the experience of watching the 20-time Grand Slam champion: “Yeah, I mean, it was really cool. Obviously, I didn’t think too much about it. The last two years of the Laver Cup, you see him in the stands and you get used to it.”
The PIF ATP Live Rankings No. 16 also joked about Federer’s trademark polish: “He looks the same in the suite as he does when he’s playing. No sweat, his T-shirt is perfectly pressed. What’s he doing, mate? His hair is perfect too.
“He’s a really great guy. He’s a legend. He’s just so cool, living life, doing what he wants to do, going wherever he wants to go, and everyone welcomes him. It’s unbelievable wherever he goes. He’s an icon.”
Sabalenka said of the impact Federer’s presence had on her game: “I saw him there, on the big screen. I’m sure he came to see Tiafoe and Dimitrov, but I thought, ‘Okay, I have to play my best tennis so he can enjoy it.’
“I had to show my skills – slicing, getting to the net, all that stuff.”
