Frances Tiafoe Faces Backlash for Bringing Up Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality After Defeating Ben Shelton

Rishika Singh | 01/09/2024
Frances Tiafoe Faces Backlash for Bringing Up Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality After Defeating Ben Shelton

Frances Tiafoe pulled off an impressive comeback victory against Ben Shelton at the US Open, rallying from 1-2 down to secure his place in the Round of 16. Despite his undeniable talent and resilience on the court, Tiafoe isn’t widely considered the fan favorite among American men at the tournament. And he didn’t help himself with his recent comments on the match, which involved him referring to late basketball legend, Kobe Bryant.

After his thrilling win, Tiafoe spoke about a conversation he had with fellow American Chris Eubanks that fueled his comeback against Shelton. In a post-match interview, the ‘Big Foe’ mentioned how Kobe’s famed “Mamba Mentality” played a role in his mindset during the match.


Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality” is more than just a catchphrase. It’s a philosophy rooted in relentless dedication, discipline, and the pursuit of greatness. It’s about putting in the work, day in and day out and striving to be the best version of oneself.

For Tiafoe to casually drop this reference after his win, was a bit over the top and didn’t quite align with the weight of Bryant’s message, according to some X users. The backlash was swift on social media. Many fans called out Tiafoe since they believe that he doesn’t command that kind of aura to pull off such statements.

Tiafoe’s comments on Kobe are interesting, because a few days ago, in another interview, he called himself a huge LeBron James loyalist.

Tiafoe was asked to pick his GOAT from a lineup of legendary athletes, including Lionel Messi, Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, and Kobe Bryant. The American tennis player picked LeBron even over Kobe, let alone Michael Jordan.

In fact, Tiafoe also tried to mimic LeBron’s iconic celebration on court before the US Open.

 

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As Tiafoe continues his run at the US Open, all eyes will be on whether he can back up his words with another strong performance. He will take on the reigning Canadian Open champion and Australian youngster, Alexei Popyrin who would have momentum on his side after defeating defending champion Novak Djokovic in the third round.

Post Edited By: Dhruv Rupani
Ben Shelton Frances Tiafoe Kobe Bryant LeBron James

About the author

Rishika Singh

Meet Rishika, the Tennis Writer at The SportsRush who spins words as deftly as Federer spins his backhand. Her tennis obsession began at 12, inspired by her dad’s adoration for Roger Federer (the only correct choice, obviously). An athlete herself, Rishika covers sports in an entertaining yet insightful manner, aiming to draw more fans into the game. When not watching or writing about tennis, Rishika loves baking and cooking, dreaming of one day launching her own food truck. Imagine each bite as delightful as a match point. Rishika’s unique blend of sports passion and culinary dreams makes her a standout voice in sports journalism. She serves up stories with humour and wit, ensuring her readers enjoy every moment of the game.

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