Tennis-Tiafoe says Serena pep talk was a huge boost

By Amy Tennery

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Frances Tiafoe needed no motivation before taking the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium for his U.S. Open match against Alexei Popyrin on Sunday but the American said an unexpected pep talk from Serena Williams inspired him like never before.

Tiafoe produced a convincing 6-4 7-6(3) 2-6 6-3 win over Australian Popyrin to set up a quarter-final against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov after the surprise visit from 23-times major winner Williams.

“Telling me she’s always following no matter what, telling me it’s so good to see now that I’m done, you’re the guy of colour playing and doing well,” he said.

“I’m, like, damn. That’s really, really cool that she sees me as that.”

Six-time champion Williams set Flushing Meadows abuzz on Saturday when she returned to the tournament for the first time since playing her final match at Arthur Ashe two years ago.

She was spotted again on Sunday, sipping the tournament’s signature “Honey Deuce” cocktail and taking in the action.

“It was really cool to have her want to talk to me before a match and really say she wants me to do this thing and that I’m capable of doing it,” said Tiafoe.

“I don’t think it will hit me like that if anybody else said it to me.”

Williams, who met with a star-struck world number one Iga Swiatek a day earlier, may be torn who to cheer for when Tiafoe and Dimitrov meet in the next stage, however, as she counts the Bulgarian as a long-time friend.

Dimitrov said Williams also gave him a pep talk on Saturday and she was in the stands when he beat Russian Andrey Rublev in five sets to make the last eight.

(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Peter Rutherford)