Ben Shelton praised Frances Tiafoe’s striking baby blue outfit worn during the 2024 French Open. The American players both competed fiercely in Paris, where Tiafoe reached the quarterfinals before losing to Lorenzo Musetti, while Shelton also faced an early exit.

Frances Tiafoe Shines Despite Early Season Setbacks

After early exits at the tournaments in Rome and Hamburg, Frances Tiafoe managed to regroup and post important victories over Sebastian Korda and Daniel Altmaier in the opening rounds of the French Open. His progress to the quarterfinal stage marked an improvement over previous years, as Tiafoe had not advanced past the third round in his last five attempts at Roland Garros.

In Paris, Tiafoe stood out visually, wearing a fresh baby blue Lululemon outfit paired with his signature headband and a chain around his neck. This new look caught the attention of his fellow American Ben Shelton, who posted a lively comment on Tiafoe’s Instagram.

“Young savage why you trappin so hard”

Tiafoe reflected on his recent clay court seasons with a sense of frustration but also renewed optimism after his French Open performance.

“Last bunch of clay court seasons have kind of just been an eye-roll situation,” Tiafoe said. “Like, ‘Oh, man, this is like just kind of watching paint dry. Can’t wait for the season to pass,” Frances Tiafoe said (via Tennis).

“Now, to be able to make quarterfinal slams, gonna probably change the way I approach it next year, this season in general. And obviously, I’ll be coming here ready to play, for sure, next year. So, I’m really happy about that,” he added.

Tiafoe Highlights Shelton’s Strengths and Personality

Frances Tiafoe spoke highly of Shelton’s game, singling out his powerful serve as one of the best on the professional tour. The two faced off at the 2024 US Open, where Tiafoe won in the third round, but acknowledged Shelton’s skill, especially as a left-handed player who strategically varies pace and placement.

“He’s young, funny, cracks jokes. Just about as immature as I am. He’s got one of the better serves on the tour, no question. Especially a lefty, he hits all the spots, changes pace quite well,” Frances Tiafoe said (via Reuters).

Their head-to-head record stands with Shelton leading 2-1, having defeated Tiafoe in Houston last year to claim a title, and again at the 2023 US Open quarterfinals. The competitive rivalry between them has added an exciting dimension to the American tennis scene.

Upcoming Challenges and Focus on Grass-Court Season

While Tiafoe’s French Open run ended in a hard-fought four-set loss to Musetti, Shelton was eliminated earlier, losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round. Both players are now turning their attention to the upcoming grass-court season, aiming to regain momentum and make deeper runs in future tournaments.

Their performances this year reflect a promising trajectory, and their determination suggests fans can expect thrilling matches as the season continues across different surfaces.