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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

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Giri Nathan

Yosuke Watanuki of Japan plays a backhand against Frances Tiafoe of the United States in their third round match during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 09, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

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Tennis

Yosuke Watanuki Is Here To Drink Soda And Cause Upsets

Frances Tiafoe yells "Fuck you" at the umpire after a loss.

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Frances Tiafoe Provides Postmatch Feedback To Umpire: “Fuck You”

Taylor Fritz of the United States celebrates a point against Alexander Zverev of Germany during their Men's Singles Quarterfinal match on Day Nine of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 03, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Taylor Fritz Gets Over The Hump

Jannik Sinner of Italy shakes hands with Frances Tiafoe of the United States after beating him in the final of the Cincinnati Open

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Frances Tiafoe Samples The Air At The Top Of The Tour

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and co-founded the website <a href="http://popcorntennis.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://popcorntennis.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PFWw6PL-FUqaCMME5TLqP">popcorntennis.com</a>. He wrote 63,000 words about the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal rivalry that can be accessed for free at <a href="https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OjAHpo4PVIhkx8Xd21lRJ">thegoldenrivalry.substack.com</a>.</p>


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Owen Lewis

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No One Knows How To Beat Carlos Alcaraz In Five Sets

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 17: Frances Tiafoe of the United States falls to ground in the round two men's singles match against Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic during the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 17, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Will Murray/Getty Images)

2024 Australian Open – Day 4

Frances Tiafoe Is Getting Lost In The American Shuffle

Ben Shelton volleys the ball during his U.S. Open quarterfinal against Frances Tiafoe

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Ben Shelton’s Athleticism Beats His Opponent’s Creativity

Frances Tiafoe celebrates a point in his U.S. Open semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz.

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Topics

Yosuke Watanuki Is Here To Drink Soda And Cause Upsets

Frances Tiafoe Provides Postmatch Feedback To Umpire: “Fuck You”

Taylor Fritz Gets Over The Hump

Frances Tiafoe Samples The Air At The Top Of The Tour

No One Knows How To Beat Carlos Alcaraz In Five Sets

Frances Tiafoe Is Getting Lost In The American Shuffle

Ben Shelton’s Athleticism Beats His Opponent’s Creativity

Frances Tiafoe Proved It

Frances Tiafoe Refined His Bits And Toppled Rafael Nadal

Frances Tiafoe Was Magic For A Few Days In Vienna

This U.S. Open Has Everything

USA! USA! USA!