Tennis star Frances Tiafoe was one win away from a legendary U.S. Open moment — and Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes weren’t going to let him forget about it.
Tiafoe, 27, lost to fellow American Taylor Fritz in the semifinals of last year’s tournament.
Two days later, Kelce, 35, and Mahomes, 29, attended the men’s final between Fritz, 27, and Jannik Sinner with their respective partners, Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes.
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Tiafoe explained how the two Kansas City Chiefs superstars teased him for his loss to Fritz, 27.
‘The Kingdom’ Gives Insight Into Early Days of Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce: The Most Interesting Moments
“I want to say, first off, that Trav and Pat are both a–holes,” Tiafoe said while promoting his partnership with CLIF BAR. “They were like, ‘Man, we were going to come watch you. You wasn’t there. What happened? They definitely made sure they brought that up. They weren’t afraid to bring that up.”
Tiafoe caught the good-natured ribbing in November, when he and his girlfriend, Ayan Broomfield, attended a Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
The tennis star and Broomfield, 28, were seated in a suite alongside Swift, which turned into a legendary rager after the game.
“They took me in with open arms and hung out all day,” Tiafoe said of Kelce and Swift. “Ate a lot and drank a lot, that was for sure. It was a great time and they were truly amazing, to see how humble both of them were knowing how big time they are. The amount of respect they had for me, I was really shocked. It was definitely one fun Sunday, man.”
Ultimately, Tiafoe said it’s “huge” to have athletes like Kelce and Mahomes come out to support tennis.
“It doesn’t really matter who’s suiting up or lacing up that day,” Tiafoe acknowledged. “The crossover is huge. We’re talking about people who are way bigger than what they do, right? They’re true celebrities who have done so many great things. It’s only going to help our game move forward. Their fans maybe come to our sport and what have you. People watch tennis from all different types of demographics.”
In the midst of a busy hardcourt season this summer, Tiafoe has partnered with CLIF BAR and their new line, Caffeinated Collection, to give him that extra boost on the court.
“The bar’s been fueling me a ton, being able to help me in long, grueling matches and during practices and workouts,” he explained. “It’s just kept me solid and maintained my energy throughout.”
CLIF BAR’s new Caffeinated Collection comes in two flavors: Vanilla Almond and Caramel Chocolate Chip.
Tiafoe noted having a smart go-to snack handy helps him avoid indulgence while traveling as best as he can.
“Sometimes on the road, you may be playing some late matches,” Tiafoe said. “In certain cities, restaurants might be closed. You’re going to be eating late and then you’re trying to recover for the next day. You’re not going to sleep at certain times. It’s definitely harder on the road, but at the same time you want to be smart and get ahead of it.”
Tiafoe added, “That’s why it’s good to have a solid team around you and, luckily, brands that make it even easier.”
