The tour’s most avid collector of basketball jerseys whipped out another (with French connections) on the eve of the clay-court major.
Forty-one years ago, in 1983, Yannick Noah lifted the trophy at Roland Garros, and is, to date, the last French man to win the tournament. But on the eve of the 2024 champions, Noah’s son, the retired basketball great Joakim Noah, also had a place of prominence on Paris’ courts … thanks to Frances Tiafoe.
The American, seeded No. 25 at the clay-court major, was spotted wearing Joakim Noah’s Chicago Bulls jersey during a pre-tournament practice, which coincidentally took place on Roland Garros’ annual kids’ day that was named in Yannick Noah’s honor last year.
Tiafoe, a noted basketball fan, might be the tennis tour’s most avid collector of player jerseys, and he’s made a habit of wearing them during practice, warm-ups, and in other off-court appearances.
This year alone, the 2022 US Open semifinalist donned both an Orlando Magic jersey and Elena Della Donne’s Washington Mystics’ kit at the Australian Open, and was photographed wearing Sabrina Ionescu’s New York Liberty jersey at Indian Wells.