Frances Tiafoe's Lighthearted Jabs at Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes

Frances Tiafoe, the 27-year-old tennis sensation, found himself at the center of playful banter after a near-miss at the U.S. Open last year. Following his semifinal defeat to Taylor Fritz, Tiafoe was not spared from the teasing of Kansas City Chiefs stars Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes.

Just two days post-match, Kelce and Mahomes were spotted at the men’s final, where Fritz faced off against Jannik Sinner, accompanied by their partners, Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes. Tiafoe recounted the light-hearted ribbing he received from the duo during an exclusive chat.

“I want to say, first off, that Trav and Pat are both a–holes,” Tiafoe remarked while promoting his collaboration with CLIF BAR. “They were like, ‘Man, we were going to come watch you. You wasn’t there. What happened?’ They definitely made sure they brought that up. They weren’t afraid to bring that up.”

The friendly jabs continued when Tiafoe attended a Chiefs game in November with his girlfriend, Ayan Broomfield. The couple enjoyed a suite experience alongside Swift, which turned into a memorable celebration after the game.

“They took me in with open arms and hung out all day,” Tiafoe shared about his time with Kelce and Swift. “Ate a lot and drank a lot, that was for sure. It was a great time and they were truly amazing, to see how humble both of them were knowing how big time they are. The amount of respect they had for me, I was really shocked. It was definitely one fun Sunday, man.”

Tiafoe emphasized the significance of having high-profile athletes like Kelce and Mahomes support tennis. “It doesn’t really matter who’s suiting up or lacing up that day,” he noted. “The crossover is huge. We’re talking about people who are way bigger than what they do, right? They’re true celebrities who have done so many great things. It’s only going to help our game move forward.”

As he navigates a busy hardcourt season this summer, Tiafoe has teamed up with CLIF BAR to promote their new Caffeinated Collection, which he credits for enhancing his performance on the court.

“The bar’s been fueling me a ton, being able to help me in long, grueling matches and during practices and workouts,” he explained. “It’s just kept me solid and maintained my energy throughout.”

The Caffeinated Collection features two enticing flavors: Vanilla Almond and Caramel Chocolate Chip. Tiafoe highlighted the importance of having nutritious snacks while traveling to maintain his energy levels.

“Sometimes on the road, you may be playing some late matches,” he said. “In certain cities, restaurants might be closed. You’re going to be eating late and then you’re trying to recover for the next day. You’re not going to sleep at certain times. It’s definitely harder on the road, but at the same time you want to be smart and get ahead of it.”

“That’s why it’s good to have a solid team around you and, luckily, brands that make it even easier,” Tiafoe concluded.