Michelle Obama supports Maryland's Frances Tiafoe in US Open semifinals
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 9: Former First Lady Michelle Obama attends the tennis match between Frances Tiafoe of the United States and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during their Men's Singles Semifinal match during day 12 of the 2022 US Open at the US
NEW YORK - Michelle Obama waved her arms in the air and yelled, "Let’s go, Foe!"
Down on the U.S. Open court below, Hyattsville, Maryland native Frances Tiafoe was pleased to see he had a new fan.
Mrs. Obama had a seat in the front row behind the baseline to watch the American play Friday night in the semifinals in Arthur Ashe Stadium, giving him a thumbs-up and a shoutout when she was shown on the video screens.
"She sees me and she’s actually excited to see me," Tiafoe said.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: USTA President Michael J. McNulty III, Former First Lady Michelle Obama and Model Jill McCormick reacts after the game during the Men’s Singles Semifinal match between Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Frances Tiafoe of t
And to think, he feared he’d made a bad first impression on the former first lady.
Not long after he spotted Mrs. Obama, even before she was shown to fans, Tiafoe remembered hitting a particularly bad shot.
"I think I shanked a return," he said, recalling that he thought "she thinks I’m a bum. Can’t make a return."
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: USTA President Michael J. McNulty III, former first lady Michelle Obama and Model Jill McCormick look on during the Men’s Singles Semifinal match between Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Frances Tiafoe of the United Stat
Actually, Tiafoe gave her a good show, taking No. 3 seed Carlos Alcaraz to a fifth set before falling 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3.
That ended the deepest run by an American man in the U.S. Open since Andy Roddick reached the 2006 final, and left Tiafoe one win shy of becoming the first Black man from the U.S. in a major final since MaliVai Washington was the runner-up at Wimbledon in 1996.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 9 : Former First Lady Michelle Obama, Jill McCormick aka Jill Vedder attend the men's semifinal between Frances Tiafoe of USA and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain on day 12 of the US Open 2022, 4th Grand Slam of the season, at the UST
After the match, he got to speak with Mrs. Obama and they walked out through the tunnel from the court together. He said goodbye before meeting up with his supporters that again included Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal.
"Obviously there was a lot of who’s whos in there tonight," Tiafoe said. "Obviously we all know what she means. Crazy getting to meet her after.
READ MORE: Alcaraz stops Tiafoe’s US Open run
"Unbelievable, unbelievable night."