By Dwight Casimere
Photo: Simon Bruty/USTA
Following his stunning loss to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling five=set US Open semi, the 22nd seed, Frances Tiafoe withdrew from the US Davis Cup team.
The first Black man to reach the US Open semis since Arthur Ashe was understandably down when he responded to a post-match interview by saying “I let everybody down.” Perhaps the reality that he was the first Black man to have the possibility of capturing the US Open crown in 53 years, weighed heavily on his mind.
Tiafoe’s promising run at the US Open ended with a cliff-hanging five-set loss to 19 year-old Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, who went on to become the youngest man to win the US Open and to become the World No. 1.
The US Team, as of this weekend, has struggled to make a significant impact at this year’s Davis Cup, which is the World-Cup of Tennis. Nation’s compete as teams to reach the top slots. On Saturday, the Netherland’s Botic van de Zanderschulp and Tallon Griekspoor both won their singles matches against Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul to push their way to the top of their Davis Cup Finals group. They will compete in Davis Cup Final 8 where this year’s Davis Cup champion will be crowned in Malaga Spain November 22-27. The US Team, meanwhile, will play its quarterfinal tie in Malaga on Thursday, November 24-Thanksgiving Day-beginning at 3am CT. Catch it live on the Tennis Channel. Check local listings for replays.