• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Sport

Tiafoe steals the show in Bublik circus act

1 July 2022, 6:19 PM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 1, 2022 Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. reacts during his third round match against Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik REUTERS/Paul Childs

All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 1, 2022 Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. reacts during his third round match against Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik REUTERS/Paul Childs

Image: Reuters

All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 1, 2022 Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. reacts during his third round match against Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik REUTERS/Paul Childs

American 23rd seed Frances Tiafoe kept his focus in the face of an Alexander Bublik circus act on Friday to reach the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time.

The 24-year-old punched the air with delight as the crowd-pleasing Bublik double-faulted to seal a 3-6 7-6(1) 7-6(3) 6-4 victory in front of an enthralled audience on Court Two.

Kazakhstan’s Bublik is one of the great entertainers in men’s tennis — a rival to Nick Kyrgios in terms of trick shots but without the scowls and controversy.

And he did not disappoint as he dipped into his box of tricks of dinks, slices, and under-arm serves, not forgetting some seriously powerful conventional weaponry.

But Tiafoe, whose game is also spectacular when firing, deservedly took the win to avenge last week’s first-round defeat by Bublik at Eastbourne.

“It was definitely a tough one,” Tiafoe said on court. “At the end, when he was spinning in underarm serves and those antics, I was close to losing my head.

“There is no game plan against that. You’ve just got to take care of your side of the court. It’s not easy because he can hit some crazy shots.”

Bublik held the upper hand when he took the opening set but Tiafoe proved the more reliable in the tiebreaks that ended the next two sets. Bublik appeared to have thrown in the towel when trailing 3-0 in the fourth but it was just a ruse.

The world number 38 delivered virtually every first serve under the arm in the following game and when most of them failed to land in the box he followed up with 130mph second serves.

Somehow he held serve and there was pure genius from Bublik in the next few games, including a nonchalant no-look drop shot that provoked a bow to the crowd.

He miraculously retrieved a lob on the way to winning a magical rally with a volley and break serve, before squaring the set at 4-4 with a booming ace.

Tiafoe looked in danger of becoming a prop in the Bublik sideshow and faced a break point at 4-4 but the American banged down an ace and held with a brilliant drop shot reply to a Bublik serve return drop shot.

The crowd wanted the match to go on but Bublik could not hold at 4-5 — leaving the court smiling and to huge cheers.

Tiafoe, only the third active American male player to reach the last 16 at four Grand Slams, will face a more conventional test next against David Goffin or Ugo Umbert.

Share article
Previous Post

VIDEO | Announcement on Mandela Day 2022

Next Post

Mahikeng community leader says kidnapping cases are often not taken seriously by police

Related Posts

Sphelele Mkhulise

10-men Sundowns beat Sekhukhune United to extend lead at the top of the log

28 January 2023, 7:10 PM
Springboks sevens

Blitzboks advance to semis of the Sydney Sevens

28 January 2023, 4:01 PM
More than 14 000 athletes at the start of the 2022 Comrades Marathon.

Registration for 2023 Comrades Marathon open

28 January 2023, 8:00 AM
[File Image] : Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane celebrates scoring

Bayern’s Gnabry on the bench against Frankfurt after turbulent week

27 January 2023, 6:44 PM
[File Image] : Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp before the match

Disciplined defence key to beating Brighton: Jurgen Klopp

27 January 2023, 3:05 PM
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts during his semi final match against Tommy Paul of the U.S.

Djokovic pounds Paul to reach 10th Australian Open final

27 January 2023, 2:21 PM
Next Post
South African Police Services logo.

Mahikeng community leader says kidnapping cases are often not taken seriously by police

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Scorcher predicted in Northern Cape for two weeks
  • Gas leak shut, isolated in Pretoria North
  • Residents shut down Komani over power woes
  • Limpopo man arrested after discovery of his wife’s body in water-filled pit toilet
  • ANC slams DA’s march to Luthuli House
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • VIDEO | St Benedict College’s Matric learner gets 11 distinctions
  • Limpopo matriculant from child-headed household attains diploma pass
  • Female circumcision practice thriving in Eastern Cape
  • Premier denies claims that KZN government spent millions on Mampintsha’s funeral
  • Gas leak shut, isolated in Pretoria North
  • Limpopo man arrested after discovery of his wife’s body in water-filled pit toilet
  • EFF cuts ties with IFP in KwaZulu-Natal
  • Ramaphosa to announce an energy emergency package
  • KZN Shark Board bans bathing at beaches amid cyclone Cheneso

LATEST

Despite efforts by African states to curb this illegal practice, many gaps still enable trafficking and smuggling criminal networks to carry out this trade in human beings.
  • South Africa

South Africa is a source, transit and destination for human trafficking


[File Image]A child running away from the dark room.
  • South Africa

NPA applies for cancellation of Gerhard Ackerman’s bail


Jacob Zuma
  • South Africa

Decision on Judge Koen on recusal matter in case involving Zuma to be heard on Monday


Models present creations at the Gucci Fall/Winter 2023/2024 menswear show in Milan, Italy January 13, 2023.
  • Lifestyle

Gucci names De Sarno as creative director with the task of reviving the brand


People carry a banner reading " We are also teaching fighting" as school workers demonstrate for better salaries and working conditions, in Lisbon, Portugal January 28, 2023.
  • South Africa

Tens of thousands of teachers march in Lisbon to demand better pay and conditions


The Lebombo Border Post between South Africa and Mozambique.
  • South Africa

Stolen cars recovered near Mozambican border


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous VIDEO | Announcement on Mandela Day 2022
Next Mahikeng community leader says kidnapping cases are often not taken seriously by police