Frances Tiafoe loves putting on a show, especially when a crew of NBA stars sits courtside to watch him work. Several Houston Rockets players showed up to support the American tennis star during his grueling three-set victory over Rinky Hijikata at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship on Thursday night. However, Tiafoe noticed a glaring 6-foot-11 absence in the front row by the time he finally secured match point.
Frances Tiafoe Takes Playful Shot at Kevin Durant After Three-Set Win in Houston
Houston Rockets stars Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, Jeff Green, and Clint Capela spent the early portions of the match taking in the action at River Oaks Country Club. However, when Hijikata stubbornly forced a deciding third set, Durant decided his night was officially over. He opted to beat the Houston traffic to get some sleep, leaving his teammates behind to watch the finale.
During the post-match interview, a Tennis Channel reporter asked about the courtside celebrity support.
“A couple of nights ago, you went to support the Houston Rockets, and they repaid the favor tonight,” the interviewer noted. “We got Kevin Durant, Amen, Jeff, Clint… I know you have a long list of celebrity athlete friends. But how cool is it when some of them can actually come and watch you compete?”
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Tiafoe wasted no time seizing the opportunity to take a lighthearted jab at the missing superstar.
“I saw KD left when I went three sets. He’s old as hell, so he had to go back and get some rest,” Tiafoe joked to the laughing crowd. “I’m happy always until the end. It’s great. Shoutout to Rockets, the playoff is coming on soon. Great Thursday night here in Houston.”
“I saw KD left when I went three sets. He’s old as hell, so he had to go back and get some rest.” ðŸ˜#USClay pic.twitter.com/KhPMj4nVqP
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) April 3, 2026
The match genuinely tested Tiafoe’s conditioning. He eventually dispatched Hijikata 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in a taxing baseline battle. The American blasted 12 aces and hit his stride in the decider to survive the dirt.
Tiafoe is no stranger to the local NBA roster. Just days before taking the court in this tournament, the 28-year-old sat courtside at the Toyota Center to watch the Rockets play the New York Knicks on March 31, a game Houston won 111-94. KD and his crew were simply returning the favor, swapping the hardwood for the clay to support a fellow elite athlete.
That bond makes perfect sense given the relentless grind of their respective seasons. The Rockets are surging, sitting comfortably in the Western Conference playoff picture and preparing for a deep postseason run. That heavy workload makes Durant’s early exit for recovery entirely justified.
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Meanwhile, Tiafoe is finding his rhythm on the dirt, improving his 2026 record to 16-7 and keeping his momentum rolling.
Up next, Tiafoe faces Alexei Popyrin in the Houston quarterfinals as he looks to defend his turf and capture another title on American soil.
