Frances Tiafoe promises to reward fans for finding lost racquet after French Open crowd celebrations – ‘Two tickets for my next match’

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Frances Tiafoe was successful in an appeal to have a racquet returned to him after it went missing in exuberant celebrations following his five-set win over Hubert Hurkacz at the French Open.

Tiafoe loses racquet as he celebrates with fans after win

Video credit: TNT Sports

The American sealed a 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 6-4 6-7(1) 6-4 victory with a forehand winner and celebrated by jumping into an excited crowd and hugging fans.

At four hours and 43 minutes, it was the longest win of Tiafoe’s career and after getting away from the crowd, he pulled off his top as he continued to savour the moment.

It was only later that Tiafoe realised he had lost his racquet amid the excitement.

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”Unreal atmosphere on Court 14 today,” he wrote afterwards on social media.

”But I must say to the fan who took my racquet at the end when I was celebrating with y’all, can I please have it back.

”I’ll bless you with two tickets for my next match. Thanks for the love y’all.”

Tiafoe next faces qualifier Jaime Faria as he bids to reach the fourth round in Paris for the second year in a row.

Speaking about losing his racquet afterwards, Tiafoe said: ”Both my hands were getting locked in, right, so I'm like, ‘okay’. It was cool, and then after a while there, I'm like, ‘all right, man, all right, guys, I've gotta get out of this, whatever’.

”But my mind's going a thousand miles an hour, so at the time I'm trying to chill out, give my respects to my opponent, give my respects to the ref. And then when you come to, you're like, wait, ‘hold on, what was going on?’.

”I mean, they were locking me in. I thought I was going to fall into the crowd at one point. But it was fun, it was a cool moment. But I actually need that racquet.”

Tiafoe later revealed that he had already had a response to his social media post, and soon had the racquet back in his possession.

Brian Kublik, who is on Tiafoe's coaching team, posted a photo with the racquet and the caption: "Racquet secured.

"Tiafoe, keep your racquet in your hands brotha [sic]."

Highlights: Tiafoe wins five-set battle against Hurkacz

Video credit: TNT Sports

Tiafoe could have closed out the win sooner but was broken when serving for the fourth set.

He said he showed a ”ton of heart” to get the victory.

”Obviously kind of just going back to a ton of work I have done and really try and lean on that and use that. I know I had more in the tank.

”Just kind of stayed there mentally. That's a tough fourth to obviously lose, but just an understanding that if I'm hurting, I know he's hurting, and tougher man wins those type of matches, for sure.”

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