Frances Tiafoe shares courtside moment with Kevin Durant in Houston | ATP Tour
Frances Tiafoe
Tiafoe shares courtside moment with Durant in Houston
Americans caught up with the NBA star
April 1, 2026
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Kevin Durant and Frances Tiafoe have supported each other in recent years.
Written by ATP Staff
Frances Tiafoe’s love for basketball is well-documented, and on Tuesday night in Houston, the American once again enjoyed a moment of crossover with the NBA world. Tiafoe hugged Kevin Durant on the sideline following the Houston Rockets’ victory over the New York Knicks in a hug that quickly set social media alight.
The NBA posted the moment on Instagram, with Durant greeting Tiafoe warmly after the final buzzer and the two exchanging a few words and smiling. Durant even added a personal touch, telling Americans he would be supporting him from the stands at an ATP event in Houston later this week.
Their meeting was no surprise given Durant’s admiration for the 18th-ranked player in the PIF ATP Rankings. Durant previously watched Tiafoe play in Washington in 2023 and praised the American’s performance on and off the court.
“First of all, he just brings energy from this area,” Durant said at the time. “He stands for what’s right, so we’re all very proud of him.”
Tiafoe has long drawn inspiration from basketball greats. His admiration for LeBron James is well-documented, with the two having a memorable meeting in 2022.
Tiafoe will participate in the ATP 250 clay court event in Houston this week, where he will face Rinky Hijikata in the first match. The No. 2 seed is 15-7 this season, according to the Infosys ATP Win-Loss Index.
