Frances Tiafoe has had the unique opportunity to partner with Serena Williams in three doubles matches, an experience that has remained significant throughout his career. As fellow Americans, Tiafoe and Williams teamed up at the Hopman Cup, which led to an unforgettable encounter against Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic in 2019.
During a conversation with rising WTA player Hailey Baptiste, Tiafoe recalled moments from his time playing alongside both Williams sisters. Baptiste recently played doubles with Venus Williams at the Washington Open, describing the experience as “insane,” which prompted Tiafoe to reflect on his own experience with Serena. Despite their losses in all three doubles matches, the Hopman Cup match against Federer and Bencic stood out due to the high profile of the opponents and the intensity of the competition.
Tiafoe recounted how Serena reacted during that match, expressing her surprise at Federer repeatedly acing her serve. He shared that Serena, confident in her abilities with 23 Grand Slam titles compared to Federer’s 20 at the time, struggled to understand how Federer was serving so effectively against her.
“I played with both of them. I played with Serena in the Hopman Cup and we lost every match, bro. I’m going to Serena like…but I guess like the mindset. The mindset they have, Serena is like, Federer is acing her and she’s like, ‘Well I’ve got 23 and he’s got 20, he’s not as good as me’. I’m like…I was like, wait, here comes ace, ace and ace. She’s like ‘I don’t know how he’s acing me, he’s not better than me’. And I’m like we going to say no? Like, no he’s not. Are you going to say no? But like the mindset yo, it’s crazy. Losing with them, that killed me.”
—Frances Tiafoe
Baptiste chimed in about the pressure of playing alongside the Williams family, sharing her intense nervousness and admiration.
“I mean I was obviously crazy nervous like, Venus and Serena are obviously the people I looked up to my entire life…Walking onto the court that day, on our first match…doubles at the Citi Open, it could have been [Arthur] Ashe [Stadium] the way people sounded. It was nuts.”
The experience clearly left a lasting impact on both players as they navigated the expectations and emotions that come with such legendary partners.
Tiafoe agreed, emphasizing how much losing weighed on them.
“Losing killed me. I want to see them win.”
Baptiste also expressed frustration about their doubles loss, especially since the team that defeated them went on to win the tournament.
“The worst part was the people we lost to ended up winning the tournament.”
Despite defeats, the chance to compete alongside Serena Williams helped Tiafoe witness firsthand the relentless confidence and competitive spirit that define her legacy.
Roger Federer’s reflections on returning Serena Williams’ serve
While on-court rivalry created moments of high intensity, deep mutual respect always existed between Roger Federer and Serena Williams. Known for one of the most powerful and precise serves in tennis history, Serena posed a serious challenge even to Federer, whose own serve was formidable.
Reflecting on their Hopman Cup doubles match, Federer admitted that returning Serena’s serve was a nerve-wracking experience.
“I was nervous returning because it’s a wonderful serve and you just can’t read it,”
Federer told the press.
He continued, highlighting his admiration for Serena’s focus and stature as a champion:
“It was great fun and she is a great champion. You can see how focused she is and that’s what I love about her.”
Together, Federer and Williams have accumulated a combined total of 43 Grand Slam singles titles, underscoring their dominance and the high level of competition whenever they shared the court. Their serves, known for their effectiveness and power, contributed significantly to their successes.
The lasting impact of these iconic partnerships and competitions
The experiences shared by Frances Tiafoe and Hailey Baptiste, coupled with Roger Federer’s candid reflections, reveal the intensity and respect present in matches involving tennis legends. For Tiafoe, playing alongside Serena Williams was both a dream and a challenge, especially facing an opponent like Federer, who was delivering aces consistently.
These encounters highlight not only the high stakes of international tennis but also the mindset of champions who compete with unwavering confidence, regardless of setbacks. Serena’s belief that she was better than Federer despite the match score demonstrates the mental resilience that has defined her career.
Looking ahead, Tiafoe’s continued growth and his past collaborations with Williams may inspire future generations of American players. Meanwhile, reflections from Federer and Williams on their on-court battles serve as lasting testaments to their skills and sportsmanship.
The vivid memories from events like the Hopman Cup and Washington Open emphasize the rich legacy these athletes leave behind, influencing both peers and fans worldwide.