Ben Shelton delivered one of the lighter moments of the week at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston, playfully calling fellow American Frances Tiafoe a “snake” after being misled about a night out at an NBA game. The comment came after Shelton learned that Tiafoe, who had earlier said he would skip the Houston Rockets matchup, instead showed up courtside.
Why Ben Shelton Playfully Called Out Frances Tiafoe Over Houston Rockets Game Snub
Tiafoe was a high-profile guest at the Toyota Center on Tuesday night, March 31, 2026, to watch the Houston Rockets take on the New York Knicks. Fresh off his quarterfinal appearance at the Miami Open, Tiafoe made the most of his time in Houston before competing in the tournament.
An avid basketball fan, he was seen enjoying the game from a courtside seat. His appearance was in line with his reputation for frequently visiting NBA arenas while traveling on tour. The highlight of the evening was the post-game interaction between Tiafoe and Rockets star Kevin Durant.
After Houston secured a dominant 111-94 victory, the two shared a warm embrace and a brief conversation on the court. Durant, who finished the game with 27 points, has a well-known mutual respect for Tiafoe. During their chat, the NBA veteran reportedly promised to return the favor by attending one of Tiafoe’s upcoming matches at the ATP 250 event in Houston.
MORE: Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe’s Houston Move Decoded by Former Pros: ‘A Last Slice of Home’
Shelton, meanwhile, is focused on his campaign in Houston, entering as the top seed and receiving a first-round bye. He advanced to the quarterfinals with a tight 7-6(5), 7-6(3) win over Zhang Zhizhen.
After the match, Shelton was asked about how he spends his off days during the tournament. That is when he revealed the story behind his jab at Tiafoe.
“I actually asked Frances at practice yesterday if he was going to the Rockets game and he said ‘No,’ so he’s a snake,” Shelton said during his Tennis Channel interview.
Where Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe Stand in the Houston Draw
While Shelton stayed locked into tournament mode, Tiafoe’s night at the arena also featured a notable interaction with Durant, who later followed through by attending Tiafoe’s second-round match against Rinky Hijikata.
The American won 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals, where he will take on either No. 7 seed Alex Michelsen or Alexei Popyrin.
Shelton, meanwhile, will take on Thiago Agustín Tirante in the quarterfinals in what will be their first meeting on the ATP Tour. The winner of this match will face either No. 3 seed Learner Tien or Roman Andres Burruchaga in the semifinals.
