Frances Tiafoe became a breakout tennis star when he made it all the way to the semifinals of the 2022 US Open men's singles tournament. Although he was not able to reach the finals of that tournament, he turned plenty of heads, and the fact that he made that deep run on home soil has only made more people notice him. So when he showed up to watch the game live at College Park Saturday between the Maryland Terrapins and the SMU Mustangs, he deservedly got rousing applause from Maryland football fans.

Frances Tiafoe is well known around College Park not only because of his tennis success but also because he was born and raised in Maryland. His father was formerly a head of maintenance at a USTA regional training center in College Park, so there has always been a connection between Tiafoe and Maryland.

At the 2022 US Open, Frances Tiafoe defeated no. 14 Diego Schwartzman in the third round but it was his ground-shaking victory over no. 2 Rafael Nadal in the fourth round that really had the tennis world talking about him. He took down the tennis legend in four sets to get himself a ticket to the quarterfinals where he edged out no, 9 Andrey Rublev.

In the semifinals, Frances Tiafoe lost a five-setter to then-no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who eventually became the tournament's champion.

Article Continues Below
Related NCAA Football News
Former North Carolina A&T player, Caleb Jones announced his retirement from the game of football in a heartfelt instagram post.
North Carolina A&T lands former Maryland quarterbackRandall Barnes ·
image thumbnail
Full Colorado football game-by-game predictions for 2025 seasonTroy Finnegan ·
Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson on the red carpet before Super Bowl LIX NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre.
Channing Crowder changes tune on Bill Belichick-Jordon Hudson relationshipBenedetto Vitale ·
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian watches from the sideline during the first half of the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10, 2025.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian makes ‘undefeated champion’ predictionRussell Steinberg ·
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celeb rates a first down catch beside Oregon Ducks defensive back Kobe Savage (5) during the first half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl
Jeremiah Smith’s instant reaction to CFB 26 coverScotty White ·
image thumbnail
Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer is still salty about missing College Football PlayoffBenjamin Adducchio ·

Nevertheless, Tiafoe has put himself on everyone's radar, including those of casual tennis fans.

Frances Tiafoe's semifinals appearance at the 2022 US Open was his deepest run in a Grand Slam tournament so far in his career.