Goodbye Roger Federer, Tiafoe impugns: “I don’t apologize”

Francis Tiafoe was overwhelmed by criticism on social media for the doubles match he won with Sock against Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal

The all-American Sock-Tiafoe pair was overwhelmed by criticism on social media for their Laver Cup doubles victory over Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer in the last match of their careers. Among many, Adriano Panatta himself had lashed out at the pair, calling them “tennis troglodytes.”

Tiafoe, however, responded to the criticism in the closing press conference of the London competition, claiming his victory: “I don’t have to apologize to Federer, otherwise he would have to for beating everyone in the last 24 years…. I thank him for inviting me to this event and for what he has done for the world of tennis, but I don’t apologize for beating him in doubles,” said Tiafoe, whose success against Tsitsipas gave the Rest of the World victory.