Frances Tiafoe has developed an appreciation for the "1, 2, 3, Foe" chant that has echoed through the stands during his matches at the U.S. Open. Initially finding the crowd's rhythmic encouragement to be "absurd" and "annoying," Tiafoe now sees it as a positive sign of support.
The chant, which began during the Cincinnati Open, was particularly noticeable during Tiafoe's fourth-round victory over Daniil Medvedev at Louis Armstrong Stadium. "I thought it was annoying, actually, at first, I’m not going to lie to you," Tiafoe admitted following his win. He described the experience in Cincinnati as "absurd" when the chant was prominent during matches where he wasn't performing well.
However, Tiafoe's success at the U.S. Open this year, particularly on the court he affectionately calls the "House that Tiafoe Built," has shifted his perspective. His undefeated record of 10-0 at Louis Armstrong Stadium this year has coincided with the chant's growing appeal to him.
"Now it’s starting to grow on me," Tiafoe said about the chant. "I actually started to like it quite a lot. I’ll put it up there [among my favorite chants]."
Tiafoe is currently competing for his first Grand Slam title. He is two years removed from a semifinal appearance at Flushing Meadows, where he lost a five-set match to fellow American Taylor Fritz. He is scheduled to face another American, Alex Michelsen, on Tuesday afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium for a spot in the semifinals.